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Reform leading to better governance, scholars suggest

By Tan Zongyang (China Daily)
Updated: 2011-07-02 07:41

BEIJING - The top leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Hu Jintao, hailed China's social and economic achievements under the Party's leadership in a keynote address on Friday, yet trenchantly criticized the problems that may sour its governance.

Resolution to further reform and rectify the Party so it can better steer the country was also highlighted, according to Chinese experts on politics and public administration.

"Hu's speech stressed that the Party, especially its officials, should maintain a close connection with the people, which is critical for fulfilling a good governance," Wu Hui, a professor at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, told China Daily.

In the speech, Hu warned that "alienation from the people poses the greatest risk to the Party," and that "Party and government offices at all levels and their officials should stay close with the people (and) address their concern".

The top leader prioritized Party-building before other tasks such as economic and culture development, and Wu said that showed the Party's resolution to discover its own faults and correct them.

"All the achievements of the Party over the past 90 years have been made by the Party together with the people. We will never forget that the people are the real heroes," Hu said when he came to the end of his speech.

And to better stay in line with the statement, the top leader warned his comrades to "not forget his origin when in prominent position" or "use power for personal gains".

Mao Shoulong, a professor at Renmin University of China, told China Daily that he thought the speech brought out both the Party's achievements and its deficiencies, which counters improper concepts in the international community.

Those who take a gloomy view on the CPC's governance would probably be wrong, Mao said, because the Party was straightforward about its problems and has initiated efforts to combat corruption and further improve its political democracy, he said.

On the other hand, Mao said, those who beat the drum for the advantages of a socialist system with Chinese characteristics, sometimes known as "China Mode", would be frustrated that the system still find faults that need correction.

Wu said the speech itself, different in rhetoric from previous Party documents, showed that the CPC has tried to become closer with the people.

"Hu said the Party members should 'respect the people as masters of the house and their creativity', which is quite a vivid metaphor. And there are more cases like this to be easily understood by the public," Wu said.