By Lan Zongmin, General Office of DRC

Research Report No 155, 2015 (Total 4840)

Abstract:

A place name is a reference term for a geographical entity featured by a certain position, region, or property. Place name management (PNM) aims to encourage the formation of standard and accurate place names and provide organization, coordination, and guidance for the use of place names in accord with laws, regulations, and technical codes. The basic functions of PNM include planning, organizing, coordinating, controlling, and providing services. Since the founding of New China, place name management has experienced five major stages, and in the new era, place name management innovation is focused on serving the state governance system, facilitating the modernization of governance capacity, and pushing ahead with law-based and information-oriented management. At present, place name management shows the following features and development trends: 1. Place name management institutions have become systemized with imperfect functions; 2. The place name management system has become increasingly sound and needs coordination and updating; 3. Standardization both at home and abroad is apparently raised to a higher level; 4. Place name management has become gradually centered on the diversification of public services; and 5. The level of place name management services is expected to be substantially enhanced by aid of the new-generation information technology.