China shifts away from economy-obsessed assessments

BEIJING - Chinese officials should downplay their obsession with economic growth and focus more on people's livelihoods and the environment, as the country trumpets a more balanced work evaluation system.

A circular on improving the work evaluation of local Party and government leaderships and officials stressed that "gross regional product (GRP) and its growth rates should not be the only main indices for the evaluation of local officials' work achievements, and charts with these data must be banned."

The document was released Monday by the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

"More distinctive and pertinent assessment indices should be created in accordance with the specific obligations of leaderships and officials at different levels and in different regions," said the statement, citing the integration of sustainable economic development, people's livelihoods, social harmony and ecological protection.

According to the document, greater emphasis should be given to indices related to the waste of resources, environmental protection, eliminating excess capacity and production safety. Also, evaluations in the fields of scientific innovation, education, culture, employment, income, social insurance and people's health should be strengthened.