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Just plain and simple digs for China's central leaders
By Wang Yong |
February 24, 2009, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE opulence of some local office buildings stands in sharp contrast to the simplicity of Zhongnanhai, the headquarters of the central government.
That was the discovery of 13 grassroots representatives who were invited by Premier Wen Jiabao on February 12 to Zhongnanhai in Beijing to give advice on government work.
The online version of People's Daily published a commentary yesterday, calling for a tougher hand against local governments that spend beyond the people's means to erect lavish office buildings, one of which resembled the US White House.
As a journalist who used to cover central leaders' activities, I found myself inside Zhongnanhai now and then, and even today I share the feeling of those 13 grassroots representatives about the extreme plainness and simplicity of the complex.
I'm not sure whether they would also agree with me that many central government leaders are easier to get along with than some pretentious local officials.
I have never changed my mind that officials' integrity can influence China's future in no less a way than the quality of a political or economic system.
A system matters. But officials who choose to live a frugal and simple life like Premier Wen Jiabao matter as well.
That was the discovery of 13 grassroots representatives who were invited by Premier Wen Jiabao on February 12 to Zhongnanhai in Beijing to give advice on government work.
The online version of People's Daily published a commentary yesterday, calling for a tougher hand against local governments that spend beyond the people's means to erect lavish office buildings, one of which resembled the US White House.
As a journalist who used to cover central leaders' activities, I found myself inside Zhongnanhai now and then, and even today I share the feeling of those 13 grassroots representatives about the extreme plainness and simplicity of the complex.
I'm not sure whether they would also agree with me that many central government leaders are easier to get along with than some pretentious local officials.
I have never changed my mind that officials' integrity can influence China's future in no less a way than the quality of a political or economic system.
A system matters. But officials who choose to live a frugal and simple life like Premier Wen Jiabao matter as well.
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