Senior official tours Beijing, stresses social management

Zhou Yongkang (C), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the Committee of Political and Legislative Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, inspects an social service center in Xicheng District in Beijing, capital of China, July 11, 2012. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

Zhou Yongkang (C), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the Committee of Political and Legislative Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, looks at the result of a food safty examination during an inspection on social management in an independent innovation demostration area in Zhongguancun Village in Beijing, capital of China, July 11, 2012. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

Zhou Yongkang (C), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the Committee of Political and Legislative Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, talks with a villager at Beiwu Park in Beiwu village during an inspection on social management in Beijing, capital of China, July 11, 2012. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

Zhou Yongkang (front, R), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the Committee of Political and Legislative Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, talks with an official during an inspection on social management in an independent innovation demostration area in Zhongguancun Village in Beijing, capital of China, July 11, 2012. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The municipal government of Beijing was urged by senior Party official Zhou Yongkang to reform and improve social management, as he visited the Chinese capital for an inspection tour on Wednesday.

Acknowledging the progress made by Beijing, Zhou, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said he expected the newly elected city leadership to thoroughly implement the Scientific Outlook on Development and push forward pilot projects in social management reform.

Through the reforms, the city should get to grips with difficult issues in social management, improve the lives of its residents and set a good example for other cities across the country, Zhou said.

The tour aimed to collect information for an upcoming national meeting on social management.

Its first stop was the public service department of Xicheng district, which has helped foster non-governmental organizations in social service.

Although social management is a government's job under the leadership of the Party, the public should be included and mobilized, Zhou argued, adding that young people and retired senior citizens often show an interest in social service and volunteer programs and are welcome to take part.

Visiting the village of Beiwu in Haidian district, the senior official chatted with villagers and was impressed by big changes in their surroundings.

Beiwu, located in the northwestern outskirts of Beijing, used to be under pressure from a stream of incoming migrant workers, suffering poor sanitation and social order. However, a government program to bring its social management up to the level of downtown Beijing areas has seen the village's facilities upgraded, an improved living environment and public services.

More efforts should be made to develop rural areas, especially the suburbs, which lag behind the center, Zhou said.

At Zhongguancun Science Park, he noted that, with the advantage of gathering the country's best talented people, Beijing should apply new technology in social management and public services to increase the systems' efficiency.