By Li Lan & Qian Cheng, Research Team on “Innovative Development of China’s Rural Governance”, Institute of Public Administration and Human Resources, DRC

Research Report, No. 89, 2020 (Total 5833) 2020-4-28

Abstract: The fourth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) introduced democratic consultation into the social governance system for the first time, highlighting the significance of democratic consultation and rational communication at grassroots communities. Based on the innovative practices such as the systems of consultation at rural and urban grassroots communities in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province in south China, joint consultation of districts, streets and communities, and village-level consultation, this research report summarizes experience and enlightenment including improving the systems through practices, strengthening the leadership of the CPC, enhancing the capacity of consultation, promoting the standardization of consultation through hardware, and pushing for development through implementation. Related government departments need to improve participants’ capacity of rational communication in grassroots governance, enhance the ability of urban and rural residents to participate in consultation, develop the training system for residents to make rational communication, and explore the development of a mode for improving their quality on democratic consultation. Efforts are also needed to innovate the approaches of consultation to improve the capacity of the participants, remove the institutional obstacles restricting the participation of residents in consultation, promote the progress of rural governance, and make grassroots democratic consultation fairer and more scientific and effective.

Keywords: rational communication, consultation, innovative practices in Guangzhou, rural governance