In Pictures--Automate and Delegate!: 制定实施"中央八项规定" [Formulate and implement the eight provisions of the CPC Central Committee]

 

 

The new trend of the times is around us

Doing things in one step

Formulate and implement eight central regulations. It is our party’s effort move to build trust in the new era. Over the past 11 years, we have persisted in upholding integrity and discipline. Correcting the "four winds" [or "four styles"] with the spirit of driving home nails has stopped some unhealthy tendencies that had not been confronted for a long time and corrected some stubborn social ills that have not been eliminated for many years. The eight provisions of the CPC Central Committee are iron rules and that provide strong leverage that are effective for the long term. We must constantly work hard and tirelessly until we can ensure that [these regulations] truly become custom.

十八届中央政治局关于改进工作作风、密切联系群众的八项规定，简称“中央八项规定”，是中共中央总书记习近平在2012年12月4日主持的第18届中共中央政治局会议 [The Eight Provisions of the Politburo of the 18th CPC Central Committee on improving work style and maintaining close contact with the masses, referred to as the "Eight Provisions of the CPC Central Committee", were issued at the 18th Political Bureau meeting of the CPC Central Committee chaired by Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee on December 4, 2012]. And, indeed, working style of cadres/functionaries has been an element of close supervision, and much discussion, from the time of the founding of PRC. Certainly since the leadership of Deng Xiaoping, it has been a periodic focus of the central Party leadership to focus on bureaucratization.

Some of our current systems and institutions in the Party and state are plagued by problems which seriously impede the full realization of the superiority of socialism. Unless they are conscientiously reformed, we can hardly expect to meet the urgent needs of modernization and we are liable to become seriously alienated from the masses.

As far as the leadership and cadre systems of our Party and state are concerned, the major problems are bureaucracy, over-concentration of power, patriarchal methods, life tenure in leading posts and privileges of various kinds.

Bureaucracy remains a major and widespread problem in the political life of our Party and state. Its harmful manifestations include the following: standing high above the masses; abusing power; divorcing oneself from reality and the masses; spending a lot of time and effort to put up an impressive front; indulging in empty talk; sticking to a rigid way of thinking; being hidebound by convention; overstaffing administrative organs; being dilatory, inefficient and irresponsible; failing to keep one’s word; circulating documents endlessly without solving problems; shifting responsibility to others; and even assuming the airs of a mandarin, reprimanding other people at every turn, vindictively attacking others, suppressing democracy, deceiving superiors and subordinates, being arbitrary and despotic, practising favouritism, offering bribes, participating in corrupt practices in violation of the law, and so on. Such things have reached intolerable dimensions both in our domestic affairs and in our contacts with other countries. (Deng Xiaoping, On the Reform of the System of Party and State Leadership (18 August 1980) § III).

Some of this has found its way into the concept of the "four winds" or "four styles" [四风] , a collective shorthand for formalism, bureaucracy, hedonism and extravagance, as working style errors for cadres/functionaries. While it is always easy to observe the movements around responses to bureaucratization and efficiency in the operations of Party cadres and especially when they are engaging in their administrative roles in the state apparatus at the national level--one can learn much by observing the way that trickles down to the local and provincial levels. To that end, sometimes one can glean much from education and working style  efforts directed downwards by central Party leadership.  

Recently the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and State Supervision [中央纪公国家监委] has caused to be distributed a quite interesting illustrated lesson in the virtues of avoiding bureaucratization and delegating authority downward with respect to the management of operational level application of  policy. These are meant to show how “中央八项规定” ["Eight Provisions of the CPC Central Committee"] can be implemented in a common "retail level" administrative operation.  The illustrated lesson follows below (with crude translations from the original Chinese text in the pictures). 

What emerges from this is worth considering.  First the old lessons about the dangers of bureaucracy and concentration of power (especially with respect to line  management) remains a problem, but one that has again captured the attention of the central authorities. In a sense, the illustration suggests the new era path to the resolution of the problem distilled by Deng Xiaoping in the prior era of historical development:

The problem is that we have gone too far in these respects, and we have even failed to clarify what we mean by decentralism and assertion of independence in the first place. Now that ours has become the ruling party in the whole country, and especially since we have basically completed the socialist transformation of the ownership of the means of production, the Party’s central task is different from what it was in the past. Now that we are engaged in the extremely difficult and complicated task of socialist construction, over-concentration of power is becoming more and more incompatible with the development of our socialist cause. (Deng Xiaoping, supra, § III).

And that is the problem of cadre/functionary working style in ways that remain connected to the masses but coordinated from the center with contextual differentiation as one moves from central to locality.  The New Era answer lies in the proper application of technology.

Second, it follows that what is novel is the way that the problem of bureaucracy is effectively overcome (at least to some extent) by the automation of decision-making. In effect, a close observation of the illustrated lesson reveals that efficiency (and therefor better management of the deployment of mass productive forces at the retail level).  The lower level functionary/cadre becomes a service assistant, and the actual decision making (approval of business license in this case) is undertaken by inputting information into a receptacle which can then be processed through algorithms that have, it is assumed, been developed by higher authorities--and managed beyond the level of mass population points of contact.

And thus the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and State supervision empathizes: "简化审批流程，优化营商环境需要干部放下架子、沉下身子 摒弃惯性思维，力戒官僚主义努力提升企业办事便利度、满意度和获得感 [(1) Simplify the approval process, (2) Optimize the business environment by requiring cadres to abandon pretensions and engage; (3) Abandon inertial thinking,(4)  Avoid bureaucracy and strive to improve business convenience, satisfaction and sense of gain]--a reworking for line cadres/functionaries of the formulation of the "four winds/four styles" [四风] error. Online processing “线上跑” serves both the purpose of avoiding bureaucratization and concentration of authority by (delegating contact to front line cadres while automating significant elements of what had once been within the scope of local level exercises of administrative discretion.  That n turn preserves  and augments central coordination (at the national, provincial and local levels, as determined by policy)  while leaving some space for local exercises of authority--though the later remains unspecified in the illustration. It is in this way, perhaps, that New Era operationalization seeks to move forward a tech based solution to the 2012 “中央八项规定”. The eight provisions also follow below. 

What may follow beyond automation is generative decision making.  It is not unlikely that, given enough data, it may be possible for processes like that described in the illustration may become not merely automated but also interactive. In that context, the program may not just process information and provide a yes-no result depending on satisfaction of all input requirements; it may also generate suggestions. In a sense, the program might become an assistant not just for the applicant, but more importantly, for the cadre/functionary who may now receive instructions on next steps or ordered alternatives where such may be necessary given either application irregularities, or implementation of other policy objectives grounded in the input entered.That may, indeed be the next era challenge for both  "four winds/four styles" [四风] error and “中央八项规定” (the eight provisions of the CPC Central Committee).

The new trend of the times is around us

Doing things in one step

Formulate and implement eight central regulations. It is our party’s effort move to build trust in the new era. Over the past 11 years, we have persisted in upholding integrity and discipline. Correcting the "four winds" [or "four styles"] with the spirit of driving home nails has stopped some unhealthy tendencies that had not been confronted for a long time and corrected some stubborn social ills that have not been eliminated for many years. The eight provisions of the CPC Central Committee are iron rules and that provide strong leverage that are effective for the long term. We must constantly work hard and tirelessly until we can ensure that [these regulations] truly become custom.

"The tables and chairs are in place, and it looks like a hot pot restaurant." [桌椅就位，看着是 有火锅店的样子了。]
"Fortunately, the renovation progress was not delayed and the on-site results were good. I will apply for a business license tomorrow and hope to have a trial opening as scheduled." [还好装修进度没耽搁， 现场效果也不错。明天我 去办营业执照，希望可以 如期试营业。]

"In 2010, in order to apply for a business license for a small noodle shop, I queued for a long time and made several trips. I have to come early today." [“2010年，为了办理小面馆的营业执照，排了好久的队，还跑了好几趟，今天我可得早点来。”]

I want to apply for a business license. [我想办理营业执照。]

How can I help you?  [请问有什么可以帮您？]

You only need to provide your ID card, pass facial recognition, and then select the business scope according to the system prompts to quickly apply for a business license. [只需要提供您的身份证，通过人脸识别，然后根据系统的提示选择经营范围，就可以快捷办理营业执照了。]

Sign reads: Self service area [自助办理区]

I have applied for a business license before, and I provided a lot of information at that time. I didn’t expect it to be so easy now, and it only took a few minutes. [我以前也办过一次营业执照，当时提供了好多资料，没想到现在这么简单，几分钟就办好了。]

Certificate heading reads "Business License" [营业执照]

In fact, in addition to the intelligent self-service all-in-one approval machine, our service hall also integrates multiple approval functions. In the past, you needed to "go to multiple places" to apply for a certificate, but now you only need to "go to one place." [其实除了智能审批自助一体机，我们服务大厅也是集多项审批职能于一体，以前办证需要“跑多处”，现在只需要“跑一处”。]

We have also implemented the service of "one-window acceptance, internal circulation, and time-limited settlement". The processing of multiple public service matters has changed from "many times" to "one time". [我们还推行了“一窗受理、内部流转、限时办结”服务，多个公共服务事项办理从“跑多次”，变成了“跑一次”。]

For many matters, you can also directly log in to the "Mingxinban" APP with your mobile phone, and the service has changed from "offline processing" to "online processing". [许多事项办理还可以直接用手机登录“明心办”APP，办事从“线下跑”，变成了“线上跑”。]

It is indeed efficient and convenient, and has truly solved the problems of difficulty, slowness and complexity in getting things done for the common people. All the procedures have been prepared in advance, and our hotpot restaurant can open smoothly! [确实高效又便捷，实实在在为老百姓解决了办事难、办事慢、办事繁问题。所有手续提前备齐，我们的火锅店能顺利开张了！]

[(1) Simplify the approval process, (2) Optimize the business environment by requiring cadres to abandon pretensions and engage; (3) Abandon inertial thinking,(4)  Avoid bureaucracy and strive to improve business convenience, satisfaction and sense of gain].--Simplifying the approval process and optimizing the business environment require cadres to put down their airs and calm down.

[简化审批流程，
优化营商环境需要干部放下架子、
沉下身子
摒弃惯性思维，
力戒官僚主义努力提升企业办事便利度、满意度和获得感 ]

Central Discipline National Supervisory Committee website, WeChat public account client

Website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission
Chaotianmen Studio
Chongqing Yubei District Discipline Inspection and Supervision Committee
Chongqing Caichang District Discipline Inspection and Supervision Committee
Discipline Inspection Commission of Xintang Township, Chaisang District, Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province
(Website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the State Supervision Commission Fang Qingqiao Chongqing Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection Luo Zexu)

[中央纪公

国家监委
网站
微信公众号
客户端
中央纪委国家监委网站
朝天门工作室
重庆市渝北区纪委监委
重庆市菜昌区纪委监委
江西省九江市柴桑区新塘乡纪委
（中央纪委国家监委网站 方庆乔 重庆市纪委监委 罗泽旭）]

 

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 十八届中央政治局关于改进工作作风、密切联系群众的八项规定，简称“中央八项规定”，是中共中央总书记习近平在2012年12月4日主持的第18届中共中央政治局会议上提出，会议上分析及研究了2013年经济工作，并且审议了中共中央政治局关于改进工作作风及密切联系群众的八项规定[1]。2017年10月27日，十九届中央政治局会议审议通过《中共中央政治局贯彻落实中央八项规定的实施细则》。

具体内容
“     一、要改进调查研究，到基层调研要深入了解真实情况，总结经验、研究问题、解决困难、指导工作，向群众学习、向实践学习，多同群众座谈，多同干部谈心，多商量讨论，多解剖典型，多到困难和矛盾集中、群众意见多的地方去，切忌走过场、搞形式主义；要轻车简从、减少陪同、简化接待，不张贴悬挂标语横幅，不安排群众迎送，不铺设迎宾地毯，不摆放花草，不安排宴请。

二、要精简会议活动，切实改进会风，严格控制以中央名义召开的各类全国性会议和举行的重大活动，不开泛泛部署工作和提要求的会，未经中央批准一律不出席各类剪彩、奠基活动和庆祝会、纪念会、表彰会、博览会、研讨会及各类论坛；提高会议实效，开短会、讲短话，力戒空话、套话。

三、要精简文件简报，切实改进文风，没有实质内容、可发可不发的文件、简报一律不发。

四、要规范出访活动，从外交工作大局需要出发合理安排出访活动，严格控制出访随行人员，严格按照规定乘坐交通工具，一般不安排中资机构、华侨华人、留学生代表等到机场迎送。

五、要改进警卫工作，坚持有利于联系群众的原则，减少交通管制，一般情况下不得封路、不清场闭馆。

六、要改进新闻报道，中央政治局同志出席会议和活动应根据工作需要、新闻价值、社会效果决定是否报道，进一步压缩报道的数量、字数、时长。

七、要严格文稿发表，除中央统一安排外，个人不公开出版著作、讲话单行本，不发贺信、贺电，不题词、题字。

八、要厉行勤俭节约，严格遵守廉洁从政有关规定，严格执行住房、车辆配备等有关工作和生活待遇的规定。

The Eight Provisions of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee on improving work style and maintaining close contact with the masses, referred to as the "Eight Provisions of the CPC Central Committee", were issued at the 18th Political Bureau meeting of the CPC Central Committee chaired by Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee on December 4, 2012. It was proposed at the meeting that the economic work in 2013 was analyzed and studied at the meeting, and the eight regulations of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on improving work style and maintaining close contact with the masses were reviewed[1]. On October 27, 2017, the Political Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Committee reviewed and approved the "Implementation Rules for the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee to Implement the Eight Provisions of the Central Committee."

details
"1. It is necessary to improve investigation and research. When conducting surveys at the grassroots level, we must have an in-depth understanding of the real situation, summarize experiences, study problems, solve difficulties, guide work, learn from the masses and practice, hold more discussions with the masses, talk more with cadres, and discuss more , dissect more typical cases, go to places where difficulties and contradictions are concentrated, and where the masses have a lot of opinions, and avoid going through the motions and engaging in formalism; be simple and easy to follow, reduce companionship, simplify reception, do not post slogans and banners, do not arrange for people to greet and see off, and do not lay out greetings. Guest carpets, no flowers and plants, no banquet arrangements.

2. It is necessary to streamline meeting activities, effectively improve meeting style, strictly control various national meetings and major activities held in the name of the central government, do not hold general meetings to deploy work and make requests, and do not attend various meetings without the approval of the central government. Ribbon cutting, groundbreaking activities and celebrations, commemorations, commendations, expositions, seminars and various forums; improve the effectiveness of meetings, hold short meetings, speak short words, and avoid empty words and clichés.

3. It is necessary to streamline document briefings and effectively improve the writing style. Documents and briefings without substantive content that can be issued or not will not be issued.

4. It is necessary to standardize overseas visit activities, reasonably arrange overseas visits based on the overall needs of diplomatic work, strictly control the personnel accompanying overseas visits, and use transportation in strict accordance with regulations. Generally, representatives of Chinese-funded institutions, overseas Chinese, and international students are not arranged to wait at the airport to pick up and drop off.

5. It is necessary to improve security work, adhere to the principle of being conducive to contacting the masses, reduce traffic control, and under normal circumstances, road closures and venue closures are not allowed.

6. To improve news reporting, members of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee should decide whether to report on meetings and activities based on work needs, news value, and social effects, and further reduce the number, word count, and duration of reports.

7. Manuscripts must be published strictly. Except under the unified arrangements of the central government, individuals shall not publicly publish single volumes of works or speeches, and shall not send congratulatory letters or telegrams, or write inscriptions or inscriptions.

8. We must practice diligence and frugality, strictly abide by the regulations on clean governance, and strictly implement the regulations on housing, vehicle equipment, and other work and life benefits.