Officials and academics at the 2nd China-Europe Senior Forum on
Government Management in Beijing yesterday said government should
cooperate more closely with communities in providing services and
increasing transparency.
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Lu Xueyi, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences professor, said the
Chinese government has learned from Europe's experience?in
cooperating with social organizations and bringing forth new
concepts of social management, such as social services and
voluntary groups.
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However, Lu said China should not adopt exactly the same model as
Europe but explore new paths on the basis of its own
conditions.
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Tang Tiehan, vice president of China National School of
Administration (CNSA), said in his report on Tuesday that
government should encourage social organizations' full role in
providing services and hearing the needs of civil society.
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Government should hand over some of its public functions to society
and establish cooperative partnerships to deal with public affairs
effectively, said Tang.
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Tang said government should make its management more open,
encourage citizens to participate in social management and give
communities more autonomy.
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Neil Kinghan, director general of the UK deputy prime minister's
office, said government can contract some public services with
social organizations and that local government should work closely
with fire fighting and environmental protection departments as well
as voluntary groups.
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"Local strategic partnerships (LSPs) are needed. Much progress has
been made in community safety, environment, education and
employment in my country since LSPs were established." said
Kinghan, adding that they can also ensure more transparency.
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More than 200 people from China and Europe are attending the
three-day forum on how to innovate social management.
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It was co-sponsored by the CNSA and European Institute of Public
Administration. The first was held in Beijing in June 2004.
(Xinhua News Agency September 15, 2005)