Beijing Review

http://www.bjreview.com APRIL 20, 2017 BEIJING REVIEW 29

NATION

Copyedited by Bryan Michael Galvan

Comments to [email protected]

enterprise investigation team of the National

Bureau of Statistics, noted that this symbol-

ized a major change in Chinaís development

mode.

ìEnvironmental pollution is such an im-

minent issue that it threatens peopleís health

and social stability. The whole of society has

reached a consensus that rapid economic

growth at the expense of a polluted environ-

ment is meaningless,î he said.

Implementation is key

Proper execution is key to controlling pollution

as well as reforms. ìAssessment and evalua-

WLRQE\VXSHULRUVOLJKWVWKHZD\IRURIĶFLDOV7KH

GLUHFWLRQLWOHDGVWRVKRXOGEHWKHJRDORIĶFLDOV

ĶJKWIRUqVDLGPHGLDFRPPHQWDWRU/L<LOLQJ+H

argued that the target of green development

would be easily reached if the impulse for pure

GDP growth was contained.

However, it is no easy task to change an

Green development in the area surrounding the Taihu Lake in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, achieves good results

XINHUA

embedded GDP-oriented evaluation mecha-

nism overnight and implement the new

standards. ìWhen it comes to implementa-

tion, it is difficult to collect statistics about

these indicators. Therefore, most countries

in the world still evaluate officials with GDP

growth as the principal reference,î said Hu

Chi, a researcher at the State-Owned Assets

Supervision and Administration Commission

of the State Council.

Li also argued that it was predictable that

local governments would continue to com-

pete with each other in terms of GDP growth.

ìIn the current stage, the tendency of judg-

ing officials based on the local economy,

both by the higher authorities and the pub-

lic, may continue as it is a simpler criterion,î

VDLG/Lp$FWXDOO\LWLVJRRGIRURIĶFLDOVWREH

evaluated from various aspects, because

economic growth rates may vary in differ-

ent regions due to unique natural resources

endowments, innovation ability, and stage of

industrialization.î

Chai Fahe, a researcher from the Chinese

Research Academy of Environmental

Sciences, praised the new environmentally

focused assessment method. ìIt shows the

Central Government is placing unprecedent-

ed emphasis on combating air pollution.

However, it should be cautious in case some

ORFDORIĶFLDOVIDOVLI\VWDWLVWLFVDERXWSROOXWLRQ

control to reach the assessment criteria,î he

warned.

To avoid this, Li suggested zero-toler-

DQFHWRZDUGRIĶFLDOVIDOVLI\LQJVWDWLVWLFVDQG

inviting the public to monitor officials. ìA

further detailed evaluation system should be

put in place and results of the assessment

should be made known to the public,î he

said. Q