Associations should not rest on government

Most business societies or associations in China are actually funded by the State, with their leaders and some other employees being listed on the government payroll. This has long been blamed for their low efficiency. The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council recently published a plan to break this and about 100 national societies will be selected for a pilot program. Comments:

Resistance to the reform can be expected because some of the State-funded societies have high bureaucratic levels and their leaders are influential in the system. The central leadership needs to show not only determination to push through the reform, but also a good plan for the pilot program, so that the resistance won't hinder its process.

china.com.cn, July 10

Some business societies grant officials honorary titles so they can use the latter's influence in expanding their business while offering them a handsome salary, which is actually a kind of corruption and should be curbed. Some districts of Beijing have already prohibited officials from accepting such titles and more are expected to follow suit.

people.com.cn, July 9

While breaking off such relations with the business associations, the government should not loosen its supervision over them, because some have already grown so big that even without State funding they are still powerful and influential. It is highly possible that they will take the reform as an opportunity to shake off the disciplinary control and do whatever they can to seek profits. It is time to define the limits of their powers while also regulating their behavior.

south.cn, July 9