More importantly, cooperation includes criticism and supervision, too, between the two entities, Yu says. Social organizations should be encouraged to participate in and manage social affairs alongside the government. Shenzhen, the southern city that pioneered the country's reform and opening up, is blazing a trail in this area, too. Pilot projects are being carried out by the Shenzhen municipal civil affairs administration to let CSOs share part of the government's social management work. This will allow the government to concentrate on raising its competency and efficiency levels, delivering high-quality public services and facilitating fair redistribution of social resources and wealth.

But China's civil society is far from being mature. Hence, a favorable environment should be created for its growth, he says. China is yet to pass a law on social organizations. Plus, there is excessive control on and management of social organizations in some places. Some organizations do not know who their administrators are and surrender their registration after several failed attempts. Others find it difficult to seek government funds. Some grassroots organizations in Beijing received funds only from Western countries and thus became estranged from the local government.

Let's return to the complicated procedures of democracy. In China, Yu says, some laws and regulations were passed quickly, without proper public consultations. The result: many of them proved either impractical or debatable. That's exactly why he pushed for public hearings on bills. "A good political system isn't judged by efficiency alone, and some procedures shouldn't be simplified China should have the confidence to seek a new political model to combine efficiency and social equity, and efficiency and democracy. I think the Chinese model will be a huge contribution to the world of democracy."

Take mass incidents in recent years for example, Yu says. Some minor incidents develop into big problems because local officials handle them recklessly in order to see it off quickly.

Pointing out of his office window in the CCCPE toward a Ministry of Land Resources office, 50 meters away, which receives complaints and visitation, he says there's a long queue of people outside the ministry's office before it opens every morning. The complaints are mainly related to land-use disputes and judicial justice. These have to be listened to carefully and handled through proper procedures. Any attempt to clear off a case quickly, without due consideration, or muffle people's voices in the name of maintaining social stability would be doing a disserve to the country.

Social stability is what China truly needs to continue with its social and economic development, Yu says. And that is precisely why he says China should progress toward democracy, without breaking away from its historical past.

But social stability is not something static for Yu that can be maintained by suppressing people's voices. Instead, what we want is "dynamic stability", he says, wherein we let people express their ideas and air their grievances. This is how we can listen to people's grievances, get to their roots and ultimately redress them, and thus let off public pressure regularly before it builds up to a point of explosion. In other words, social justice and good governance are the foundation of a harmonious society. Politicians and the common people both should have the knowledge and wisdom to derive the greatest benefit from democracy by paying the lowest political and social costs.

Comments