Expanding sustainable networks with Europe

CEPA works with the Ministry of Personnel (MOP) and the State Commission Office for Public Sector Reform (SCOPSR) in seeking to provide a more extensive cooperative platform for Chinese public administrative departments and their European counterparts.

MOP is responsible for a range of human resource management policies and processes for "white-collar" civil servants.

Through its International Department, the ministry already has a number of contacts with EU government institutions and has gained some European experience.

The aim of the component is therefore to strengthen its capacity to develop and maintain networks, as well as use the networks for the benefit of both Chinese and European institutions.

Study visits play an important role in achieving this aim, so they are carefully planned. Long-term visits, in particular, provide the opportunity for in-depth study and comparative research.

Visits also provide the opportunity to establish or strengthen contact with the host organizations. Important areas such as recruitment, selection, pay policy, performance appraisal and career development have been addressed during the program.

Those undertaking the visits make reports and recommendations, and the information gained is reviewed for relevance and application in China.

Early this year, Chinese CEPA members and their EU counterparts discussed the priorities for SCOPSR and identified the main themes for study visits.

They recognized that strengthening international links is important, as is developing understanding of how public administrations in the EU member states have coped with reforms.

China shares the view that efficiency and transparency are increasingly important in public administration.

Recent themes have included experiences of reform, relationships with civil society, the role of government in supervision of organizations, implementing policy, organization and delivery of services, and the role of local administrations and their relationship with the central government.

The component also sponsors young officials from each organization to complete a Master's program in Europe.

So far, four young officials have been selected to attend "Master of Public Administration" programs at European universities, three from MOP and one from SCOPSR.

All have now graduated, their hard work rewarded as they each passed with "Distinction", a great acknowledgment of their skills.

(China Daily 11/13/2007 page20)