Laiwu creates new model for social governance

A mediator helps solve a dispute in Laiwu district. [Photo by Lyu Canan for chinadaily.com.cn]

Laiwu district in Jinan, the capital of East China's Shandong province, has been adhering to and developing the "Fengqiao model" to promote community-level social governance, and its efforts have been paying off.

The "Fengqiao model" was created about 60 years ago by residents of Fengqiao town in Zhuji city in East China's Zhejiang province. Known for its approach of relying on the people to resolve disputes at the community level, the model has since been promoted throughout the country.

Creating its own version of the "Fengqiao model" fit for today, the district has in recent years explored new mechanisms, developed new systems and fostered a group of outstanding mediators such as Jiao Fang'an, Wang Qixin and Zhao Yunchang.

Laiwu has taken advantage of outstanding mediators and explored the construction of inter-regional and inter-village people's mediation organizations.

Relying on mediation experts, it has set up mediation teams such as "Yunchang" and "Qixin". It has also established individual mediation studios and formed industry-specific professional mediation organizations in the areas such as lawsuits, public security, traffic accidents, labor disputes and medical disputes.

In recent years, based on the improvement of the mediation teams comprised of village (community) mediation committees, full-time mediators, and part-time mediators, Laiwu has also been able to absorb a group of legal consultants and community workers to participate in the mediation efforts. (Edited by Gong Jun)