Government/Politics - 181. page

The State Council recently introduced a plan to simplify and transform government work that requires decentralized power, while still maintaining control. China Review News carried an article that provided its interpretation of the plan. The article stated that simplification of the work and the decentralization of power indicate that the government needs to listen to the general public rather than impose its own will. It also requires that the government be transparent about its administrative approval process so the general public can gain greater benefits from the change. Moreover, the article said it was encouraging to see that the policy mentioned the importance of imposing deadline requirements and improving the efficiency of the government’s work.

Source: China Review News Agency, May 17, 2015
http://hk.crntt.com/doc/1037/5/5/5/103755546.html?coluid=151&kindid=11513&docid=103755546&mdate=0516153046

In January, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Party and the General Office of the State Council published, “An Opinion on Further Development of Think Tanks with Chinese Characteristics.” China Review News recently published an interview with three experts from Hunan Province to get their input. According to the article, the experts mentioned that, currently, not only was there a lack of focus on the development of think tanks in China; there was also a lack of high quality and influential think tanks. As to the question of what it means for a think tank to have "Chinese characteristics," one answer was that the think tank should participate in forming public policy. It needs to be more diversified while also maintaining its independence. Another answer was that a think tank with Chinese characteristics should reference but not copy the experience from the Western world. It should be clear that the “Party can manage the think tank,” which must use the “Marxism-Leninism, Mao’s Theory, and Socialist Theory with Chinese characteristics” as its guiding ideology. According to the article, it should provide service on strategic issues and public policy, stay diversified, and provide macroeconomic regulation and control.

Source: China Review News Agency, May 14, 2015
http://hk.crntt.com/doc/1037/4/4/4/103744402.html?coluid=151&kindid=11515&docid=103744402&mdate=0514083805

The fifth generation of Chinese leaders [Xi Jinping’s Administration] initiated reform with bold steps, far exceeding its predecessor, the Hu-Wen administration. As the reform has been advancing, a number of interest groups have been thwarting the effort with increasingly strong resistance. Four categories of resisters have gradually coalesced to become the political opponents of the fifth generation of Chinese leaders. 

On May 1, 2015, one of Hong Kong’s media, Cheng Ming Monthly magazine, published an article titled, “The Party School of the CCP Central Committee criticized the ‘Three Represents.’” The “Three Represents” is a political theory credited to Jiang Zemin, former General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party. However, Cheng Ming Monthly only published the title in its online table of contents. The article from the original print edition is not available online. According to Wikipedia, Three Represents is the official statement of the ideology, which stipulates that the Chinese Communist Party should be representative to advanced social productive forces, advanced culture, and the interests of the overwhelming majority.  

On May 5, 2015, NTDTV introduced some specifics about the Cheng Ming Monthly article. At a theoretical study session held at the Party School of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee (http://www.ccps.gov.cn/), participants openly criticized Jiang Zemin’s “Three Represents” theory. They stated, "The Three Represents is empty, vague and metaphysical; it opened the door for the capitalists to join the Party; it betrayed the Party’s Constitution; it violated and trampled the national constitutional system; and it undermined the Party’s organizational structure."

Sources: Chengming, May 1, 2015; NTDTV, May 5, 2015

http://www.chengmingmag.com/cm451/451toc/451toc.html
http://www.ntdtv.com/xtr/gb/2015/05/06/a1195246.html

On April, 27, 2015, the website of the Party School of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee (http://www.ccps.gov.cn/) published an article that promoted Xi Jinping’s new theory. Xi Jinping, the current General Secretary of the CCP Central Committee, has presented his new theory as “Four Comprehensives.” That is, the China would work comprehensively to build up a moderately prosperous society, comprehensively deepen reforms, to comprehensively govern the nation according to the law; 4) comprehensively be strict in governing the Party.

According to article, Xi Jinping’s new “Four Comprehensives” theory is rich in content and great in its system. It is the ideological guidance and theoretical guidelines to realize “China Dream” of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nationality. It can also guide us to do all kinds of jobs. … The important and far-reaching significance is self-evident.”

Source:  Website of Party School of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, April 27, 2015

http://www.ccps.gov.cn/theory/zjzx/201504/t20150427_59642.html

The Economic Weekly, a publication under People’s Daily reported that the Cyberspace Administration of China released a list of media from which Internet media companies may reprint news articles. 

Qiushi Theory published an article on how to improve the Party’s propaganda work in colleges and universities. The article stated that strengthening ideology work in colleges and universities is a strategic project. It identified the following four areas as the key focus:

1) Strengthening the colleges and universities’ sense of responsibility for carrying out propaganda work. The colleges and universities should provide proper education and guidance to the students. It should become a solid foundation to spread the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Colleges and universities should also be on guard against those that attack the Party and the system or spread distorted and irresponsible theories.

2) Improving the power of inspiration. Propaganda work must ensure that the students can benefit mentally and spiritually. Therefore, it should focus on solving the practical issues the students face and come up with plans to work with students who have different needs and are from different backgrounds.

3) Expanding the coverage of propaganda work. The propaganda network should facilitate the messages being heard through new media such as micro blogs, videos, and cell phones and on bulletin boards throughout the campus.

4) Building a strong energy field to attract students. Colleges and universities should launch different campus activities in order to create a positive environment to attract students. Meanwhile the faculty and staff should improve themselves and act as role models for the students.

Source: Qiushi Theory, April 29, 2015
http://www.qstheory.cn/zhuanqu/zywz/2015-04/29/c_1115123793.htm

China Review News carried an article addressing the issue of the growing interest in developing think tanks in China. The article was based on an interview that China Economic Times conducted of Professor Xue Lan, Dean of the School of Public Policy and Management at Tsinghua University. Xue addressed the current issues facing university think tanks. He made recommendations for the development of different types of think tanks in China and shared his view on what is needed to ensure that these think tanks remain independent. The following are Xue’s recommendations on the future development of government, university, and private think tanks.

Those policy research agencies working within the government rely on limited funding from the government. They have to find outside consulting projects to offset the shortfall in funding. Xue recommended that some of them should become policy research departments within the government. Some can gradually become independent, but the government should provide limited financial assistance before they become independent.

Those university think tanks that are public policy research firms can be transformed into first class think tanks. They can follow a model that is similar to those in foreign countries. They need to reconsider their relationship with the university, improve their research capabilities, and try to acquire donations from the public.

For private think thanks, since they have already gained years of experience, Xue recommended that the government provide tax or other incentives to help them grow to be the main driving force in the area of think tanks.

Source: China Review News Agency, April 18, 2015
http://hk.crntt.com/doc/1037/0/8/5/103708574.html?coluid=151&kindid=11515&docid=103708574&mdate=0418112317