CPC emphasizes social governance

Social worker Zhang Liangguang thought the CPC document signals that the roles of social organizations will change from mere service providers to participants in social governance.

Zhang is managing director of Superior Power Social Work Development Center, a service provider of government purchase in Guangzhou, China's southern business hub.

His organization opened an office in January in Shiling Town in the city outskirts, a typical industrial town in the coastal area of China, providing professional social services to the migrant workers.

"The town is the largest manufacturing center of leather wear in China. There are over 300,000 migrant workers there, and only 70,000 local residents. The unfairness of their incomes and social welfare might cause conflicts between the two groups," explained Zhang.

Problems did break out in similar industrial towns, and Zhang hopes that social workers can bridge the gap between the local government and the migrant workers, and prevent such crisis.

Zhang views the new messages from the key meeting as a huge encouragement, as well as a new requirement. "Social organizations must enhance their capacities to meet the demands."

There are still many obstacles faced by the booming social organizations in China. Both their quantity and quality are far from satisfying.

Jin Jinping, a law scholar with Peking University, pointed out that the lack of vitality is still the biggest problem of Chinese society.

"There aren't enough organizations, and they are small and weak. They don't have enough resources, and are not properly supervised. The public has few opportunities to participate in their work."

"The government should accelerate reform of non-profit organizations with official backgrounds, and spur the development of NGOs, especially those rooted in communities," Jin added.

She also urged the improvement of regulations regarding social groups, NGOs and foundations, and the legislation of a fundamental law of the social organizations.

Gu Jun said the government should streamline its fiscal and taxation policies on social organizations to ease their burdens.

"China is at a historical point of transformation," Zhang Liangguang told Xinhua. "I hope the social organizations can fulfill their missions."