BEIJING - China's central government pledged building a national data-sharing platform to boost the efficiency of inter-agency information exchanges.

Ministries and other central authorities should link their information systems to the national platform before the end of June 2018, according to an action plan published by the General Office of the State Council Thursday.

June 2018 is also the deadline for the preliminary establishment of information connectivity between central agencies and local governments.

The plan called for early results in key systems by the end of 2017 to increase convenience for individuals and companies.

Besides addressing the use of data within the government, it also sought progress in open data services for the public.

The government should encourage and guide the use of government data made available through the services, said the plan.