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Developing New-Type Think Tanks with Chinese Characteristics and Promoting State Governance Modernization
By Li Wei 2015-07-28
As an integral part of the modern state governance system, think tanks are the major embodiment of soft power of a country. In order to promote the development of new-type think tanks with Chinese characteristics under new circumstances, efforts need to be made to have a comprehensive and accurate understanding of the meanings of the state governance system and governance capability modernization. It is also necessary to precisely grasp the position and role of think tanks in the state governance system and conduct further study on related major issues.
I. A Comprehensive and Accurate Understanding of the Meaning of State Governance Modernization in China
It is clarified in the Decision of the CPC Central Committee on Major Issues Concerning Comprehensively Deepening the Reform (hereinafter referred to as the Decision) that the ultimate objective of comprehensively deepening the reform is to perfect and develop the socialist system with Chinese characteristics and promote the state governance system and governance capability modernization. General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered a series of important speeches on the latter issue, clarifying the scientific connotation of "state governance system and governance capability" and instructing the direction of "state governance modernization" in China. These served as the compass and steering wheel for us to understand and study related issues on state governance modernization.
1. State governance system and governance capability modernization are an integral part of the ultimate objective in deepening comprehensively the reform.
General Secretary Xi indicated that the state governance system and governance capability are the concentrated expression of the systems and the ability in implementing the systems of a country. State governance system is the system for administrating the country under the leadership of the Party and includes systems, mechanisms and legal arrangements in economy, politics, culture, society, ecological civilization and Party building. In other words, it is a complete set of closely connected and mutually coordinated national systems. State governance capability is the ability to use national systems to manage social affairs, covering various fields such as reform, development, stability, domestic affairs, diplomacy and national defense.
The direction of comprehensively deepening the reform in China is to unswervingly pursue the socialist path and perfect and develop the socialist system with Chinese characteristics and realize the dream of great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The priority of perfecting and developing the socialist system with Chinese characteristics is to push forward the state governance system and governance capability modernization. These issues are interdependent and inseparable. State governance modernization in China can only be realized when the socialist path with Chinese characteristics is pursued; the socialist system with Chinese characteristics can only be perfected and developed by constantly enhancing state governance modernization. Only by perfecting and developing the socialist system with Chinese characteristics can we realize state governance modernization and guarantee our pursuit of the socialist path.
2. State governance system and governance capability modernization are a major symbol of governance institutionalization by the Communist Party of China.
In the talks by Deng Xiaoping in 1992 during an inspection tour to southern China, he pointed out that it would take us another 30 years before we could set up a complete set of mature and institutionalized system in various fields. In the 3rd Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, the Party proposed promoting the state governance system and governance capability modernization which were exactly based on the strategic thinking of Deng Xiaoping. It is the prerequisite for perfecting and developing the socialist system with Chinese characteristics and the requirement for realizing socialist modernization. General Secretary Xi stressed that "for governing a country, systems play a fundamental, overall and profound role." After over sixty years of pilot practice for exploring the ways for building socialism with Chinese characteristics, we have accumulated successful experience and learnt heavy lessons. At present, our top historic task is to perfect and develop the socialist system with Chinese characteristics and provide a set of complete, stable and effective systems for Party building and national development, the well being of the people, social harmony and sustained stability of the country. It can be said that institutionalization is the intrinsic feature of state governance modernization. To be specific, institutionalization of state governance refers to the regulation of basic national political systems during state governance, covering power allocation, setting of institutions for exercising the power, functions of organs of authority, restriction and supervision of public power and protection of civil rights, so that state and social affairs could go by relevant laws, rules and regulations.
3. State governance system and governance capability modernization should be realized in light of China's actual conditions.
Theoretically speaking, governance is the sum of various methods used by individuals and institutions, either private or public, to operate and manage their common affairs. Due to the difference in political systems and development stages, the governance systems of various countries is expressed in different forms. General Secretary Xi highlighted that "what kind of governance system a country chooses is decided by history, cultural tradition and economic and social development of that country and by its people." "The state governance system in China is the national system for the Party to lead the people to effectively govern the country, while state governance capability is the ability of the Party in leading the people to use the national system to effectively implement governance." Promoting the state governance system and governance capability modernization is the process for the system and ability of governance to adapt to the changes of the time for further development. We need to abide by the strategy of ruling the country by constitution and law to strengthen the comprehensive building of national system under the rule of law. The state governance vision proposed by General Secretary Xi has at least two important meanings. First, state governance modernization in China cannot sever its ties from Chinese history or culture or from the world socialist history or the practice of socialist countries. What is important for us is to draw on experience and lessons. Besides, the present state governance modernization should contain previous reasonable factors in state governance and adhere to the mature and effective rules and regulations on management. Second, as for governance-related theories, experience and practice of other countries, we cannot entirely copy or reject them but should draw on and make use of their achievements.
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