Common Chinese have more say in policy-making

BEIJING—The suspended controversial Xiamen city PX plant probably will not become a landmark wherever it finally stands, but it may have helped lay a cornerstone that boosts ordinary Chinese people’s participation in policy making.
The authorities in Xiamen, east China’s Fujian Province put a paraxylene (PX) plant project, earmarked for Haicang District 16 kilometers from the city center, on hold on May 30 last year. The decision came after huge pressure from citizens opposed to the project who said it was polluting and potentially dangerous. To seek a solution, the government and residents have had months of interactive communication. Two public hearings were held in the coastal city last month on whether to restart construction of the chemical plant, and the lucrative project is still waiting for the release of suspension.
The suspension of the project and following communication between the authorities and residents indicate a change in the weight given to the views of ordinary Chinese in recent years. In its report at the 17th national congress held in October 2007, the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) promised to “expand the citizens’ orderly participation in political affairs at each level and in every field.” “We must ... mobilize and organize the people as extensively as possible to manage state and social affairs as well as economic and cultural programs in accordance with the law,” the report read.
China has also been striving to diversify forms and expand channels to facilitate commoners’ participation in political affairs in recent years. A total of 12 departments, including the Ministry of Commerce, the State Food and Drug Administration, and the Beijing Organizing Committee of Olympic Games, started holding press conferences on regular basis this year. This was in addition to other departments since the country widely applied the news briefing system to most central government departments and local governments in 2003. More than 1,400 press conferences on issues about energy conservation and emission reduction, people’s livelihood, product quality and food safety were held by the State Council Information Office, central government departments and provincial governments in 2007.
And more than 70 percent of county-level governments have set up the system for soliciting public opinions on government decision-making. It allows common Chinese to voice their opinions at public hearings or meetings to appraise a policy or project. Currently, more than 80 percent of county-level governments have set up websites. China central government launched its website in 2006. The websites aim to provides information on government affairs, online services and interactive communication between governments and citizens.

—Xinhua