Part 1/10 Reform of NGO Management System: Opinion Issued by CPC Central Committee General Office and State Council General Office (my own translation)

Please note: this is not an official translation. It is intended for use for study and reference only.

Holly Snape.  

Opinion on the Reform of the Social Organization Management System and Promotion of the Healthy and Well-Ordered Development of Social Organizations

Issued by the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council

This Opinion on reforming the social organization management system and giving impetus to the healthy and well-ordered development of social organizations is introduced so as to fully implement the guiding principles from the 18th National Party Congress and the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth plenary sessions of the 18th CPC Central Committee, further strengthening the development of social organizations and prompting the dynamism of social organizations.

1.   Importance and Urgency

Social organizations, which take the form of social groups (shetuan), foundations, and social service organizations, are an important force in China’s development of socialist modernization. The CPC Central Committee and the State Council have always placed particular importance on work related to social organizations; since the beginning of reform and opening, with the significant attention and support of all levels of Party committees and government, China’s social organizations have been constantly developing, and have played a positive role in promoting economic development, helping social causes prosper, making innovations in social governance, expanding overseas exchanges, and so on.  But at the same time we have to take note, at present there are still problems with our work related to social organizations: the development of the legislative system is not keeping up, the management system is incomplete, the level of support and guidance is not enough, the development of social organizations themselves is inadequate, and so on. On the whole, the role played by social organizations is not full enough, and there are frequent instances of social organizations breaking the law and committing violations.

At present, China is in the decisive stage of finishing building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. Reform of the social organization management system and encouragement of the healthy and well-ordered development of social organizations is conducive to straightening out relations between the government, the market and society, and improving the socialist market system; is conducive to improving the methods of public service provision and strengthening and making innovations in social governance; and is conducive to giving impetus to the dynamism of society and consolidating and expanding the foundations for governance by the Party. Every locality and department must adopt a strategic perspective thinking about the full picture to fully understand the importance and urgency of making sure our work in this area is done properly, and treat it as important foundational work as they carry it out, taking the initiative to adapt to the demands of the new situation and new tasks, fully implementing related policies and measures, and ensuring this work is done properly and effectively.