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Changes and challenges with China's 30 years reform and opening up (5) |
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18:42, October 06, 2008 |
INSTITUTIONAL RESTRUCTURING
Chinese leaders are clear minded and steadfast that the drive to reform and open-up the country should speed up.
"Today, if we want to resolve the deep-seated problems that constrain China''s social and economic development, if we want to realize scientific development, we must unswervingly continue to reform and open up," said Chinese President Hu Jintao.
Having gotten rid of poverty on the whole, the country is setting its sights on streamlining the market and administrative systems to build a moderately prosperous society.
"If the past reform was aimed at ensuring enough food and clothing for the people, it is now aimed at goals at a higher level," said Prof. Wang Yukai of the National School of Administration.
On June 25, 2008 China set a guideline for a new round of institutional reform of the State Council, the country''s Cabinet, in an effort to build up a service-oriented, responsible, law-abiding and clean government.
The proposal for institutional overhaul of the central government was endorsed by Chinese lawmakers in mid-March. It involves the establishment of "super ministries" to deal with energy, transport, industry and environmental protection.
Observers say the planned institutional restructuring of the State Council is part of the reform in the political system.
"The conduct of the government is closely related to the achievements of the reform and opening-up drive," said Chi Fulin with China Institute for Reform and Development.
Since the SARS crisis in 2003, people have seen transformation of the government as one of the keys to changing the mode of economic development, said Chi.
"Without substantial changes in government functions, the change in the mode of economic development would be very difficult or even unreachable," he added.
In fact, institutional government restructuring has been tried in a few localities in the past few years. Encouraging results have been reported.
Seven years ago, Shenzhen, the pacesetter of China''s reform and opening up, started pioneering the restructuring of its administrative departments.
"We concentrate the administration of marine, land and air transport in the Transportation Bureau, industry and domestic and foreign trade in the Trade and Industry Bureau, and the management of radio, TV, culture, press and publication, and copy rights in the Culture Bureau," said Xu Zongheng, mayor of Shenzhen.
"These functions formerly scattered in different departments and the reshuffle has resulted in evident improvement of efficiency," said Xu.
Competitive elections of Party officials in neighborhood committees and village committees will be put into practice soon, he added.
Source: Xinhua
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