Deepening rule of law

Various attempts have been made to modernize the problematic chain of command. But none has been as impressive as the State Council's latest initiative to upgrade governance at the county and city levels.

In fact, this could well be the first reform package meant to substantially redefine the way local affairs are managed in grassroots China.

Governments at county and city levels are the closest to, though they themselves are not, the basic network of the national administrative establishments. Below them there still are the truly grassroots township governments.