Unusual sort of innovation

We Chinese use two brushstrokes to write the word innovation. One stands for creation, the other for newness. The two characters make one English word "innovation", one of the most often used expressions in modern Chinese official vocabulary.

Xu Xinrong, the mayor of Weinan, a city in Shaanxi province, is capable of innovation, sort of.

He recently announced that his government would encourage public servants to "take second, part-time jobs in private companies". (China Daily, Sept 19)