CPC emphasizes social governance to tackle conflicts

BEIJING - The Communist Party of China (CPC) has emphasized innovation in social governance in the country's new reform, which echoes high expectations of scholars and boosts confidence of social workers.

A decision was publicized on Friday by the CPC Central Committee, urging improvement of China's pattern of social governance to stimulate ? social organizations and innovate prevention and resolution of social conflicts.

CPC Third Plenary Session

The lengthy document on major issues concerning comprehensively deepening reforms was approved at the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, a four-day key meeting which ended on Tuesday.

"It's notable that the vitality of social organizations was mentioned in the reform framework," said Chi Fulin, president of the Hainan-based China Institute for Reform and Development. "It signals the breakthrough in China's social transformation."

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua ahead of the plenum, the reform advocate pointed out that reform was at the critical point. Any delay ?could increase social risks, he warned.

A series of violent crimes hit China this year, including a bus fire in June claiming 47 lives in southeastern city of Xiamen, which caused not only innocent deaths but also social panic.

In some cases, criminals are using violence to express demands or vent anger.

"Some local governments are helpless in tackling disputes or conflicts, because they're caught in the contradictions themselves," commented Gu Jun, a sociology professor with Shanghai University. "They should value social organizations' roles in resolving the problem."

Gu stressed that governing is a notion different from regulating. "The subject of regulation is the government alone, while governance is a negotiation process that brings in all the interested parties."

"The core issue of this reform is the relationship between the government and the market, as pointed out in the document," Gu added. "And I believe the government should also optimize its relationship with social forces."

China's cabinet unveiled a plan for the transformation of government functions in March, which will simplify the administrative procedure for social organizations.

Until the first half of this year, more than 500,000 social groups, non-governmental organizations (NGO), public institutions and foundations had been registered in China, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Governments at different levels also provide support by purchasing services from the organizations. Many social forces are already paying close attention to the most delicate issues in Chinese society, such as patient-hospital disputes, environmental crises, and the welfare of migrant workers. And a lot of them are no longer considered as trouble-makers by the local governments, but supporting roles in public affairs.

An example is the patients' rights association in northwest China's Gansu Province, which helps the local hospitals and patients settle disputes as a third party. Its positive impact is recognized by both patients and hospitals. Health authorities in Gansu even required hospitals to set up workshops to team up with the association.

Social worker Zhang Liangguang thought the CPC document signals that the roles of social organizations will change from mere service providers to participants in social governance.

Zhang is managing director of Superior Power Social Work Development Center, a service provider of government purchase in Guangzhou, China's southern business hub.

His organization opened an office in January in Shiling Town in the city outskirts, a typical industrial town in the coastal area of China, providing professional social services to the migrant workers.

"The town is the largest manufacturing center of leather wear in China. There are over 300,000 migrant workers there, and only 70,000 local residents. The unfairness of their incomes and social welfare might cause conflicts between the two groups," explained Zhang.

Problems did break out in similar industrial towns, and Zhang hopes that social workers can bridge the gap between the local government and the migrant workers, and prevent such crisis.

Zhang views the new messages from the key meeting as a huge encouragement, as well as a new requirement. "Social organizations must enhance their capacities to meet the demands."

There are still many obstacles faced by the booming social organizations in China. Both their quantity and quality are far from satisfying.

Jin Jinping, a law scholar with Peking University, pointed out that the lack of vitality is still the biggest problem of Chinese society.

"There aren't enough organizations, and they are small and weak. They don't have enough resources, and are not properly supervised. The public has few opportunities to participate in their work."

"The government should accelerate reform of non-profit organizations with official backgrounds, and spur the development of NGOs, especially those rooted in communities," Jin added.

She also urged the improvement of regulations regarding social groups, NGOs and foundations, and the legislation of a fundamental law of the social organizations.

Gu Jun said the government should streamline its fiscal and taxation policies on social organizations to ease their burdens.

"China is at a historical point of transformation," Zhang Liangguang told Xinhua. "I hope the social organizations can fulfill their missions."