China launches nationwide fact-finding drive to seek public feedback on policies

Government officials told to carry out field research, gauge public opinion, instead of ‘sitting in the office’

As Beijing struggles with an ageing workforce, economic headwinds, officials hope to get clearer sense of grass roots grievances

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Chinese officials are being ordered to carry out field research and gauge public opinion, instead of ‘sitting in the office’. Photo: AFP

Published: 6:00am, 21 Mar 2023

China’s ruling Communist Party kicked off a nationwide fact-finding campaign to seek feedback and look for “innovative” suggestions to achieve ambitious policy goals amid growing internal and external challenges, state media reported.

The general office of the policymaking Central Committee issued a directive about the campaign, saying it is of fundamental importance in implementing the governance philosophies of President Xi Jinping, Xinhua reported.

Under the directive launched Sunday, each leading cadre with department head ranking or above must undertake at least one research topic for on-the-ground surveys and research.

“At present, our country is at the cusp of a new development phase with new tasks, opportunities, demands and environment,” the directive said. “However, this changing environment, which has no precedent in the past century, is changing fast, creating many uncertainties and unpredictable factors.”

“Meanwhile, reform and stable development in the country is confronted with many deep-rooted contradictions that are unavoidable and cannot be bypassed.”

“The difficult problems we face now are more complex and challenging than some of our previous problems, hence we urgently need to find solutions to these problems by conducting research and surveys so we can have a true grasp of the nature and patterns of the problems,” it added.

The directive echoed Li Qiang’s first press conference as China’s premier last week when he said he would direct government officials to carry out field research and solicit public feedback instead of “sitting in the office”.