Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai

Xiangzhou District's practice of community governance and service innovation is rated as a national excellent, it was recently announced by the organizing committee consisting of Chinese Academy of Governance and People's Daily website.

It's third time that the Zhuhai's district has taken home the honor since the activity was launched in 2012. This year, the honor goes to the Nancun community in Meihua area, which has been approved by a number of experts due to its unique way of managing communities at grassroots level.

Enterprise representatives, local residents, staff members from property management companies and social organizations are invited to discuss and put forward solutions to issues at a community office, in Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai.

Once perplexed by the governance of urban communities and neighborhoods, Xiangzhou District has improved management modes and given full play to the role of local residents.

In Nancun's system where a negotiation committee with a coordinating role is established, the council acts independently of homeowner committees and conventions.

Based on the original administrative system, enterprise representatives, local residents, staff members from property management companies and social organizations, as well as other parties involved, are also invited to give their opinions on how to solve public issues, in efforts to build a better community.

A local resident puts forward an issue for further discussion.

The committee will sort out the list of major public issues to deal with and listen to opinions and suggestions among the public and invite experts, scholars and deputies to the National People's Congress to join in the negotiations.

This method of resolving issues has proved more efficient and democratic than conventional systems, complete with a supervisory mechanism set up to help the ideas to be put into practice, which has allowed the community to maintain social stability.

In Nancun community, local residents organize and manage public welfare projects.

Xiangzhou also witnessed a wide participation of local residents in community construction in various ways. Some well-operated social organizations are allowed to handle government procurement of public services, which enables the grassroots to self-manage the public welfare facilities and amenities and develop a shared public spirit.

The awarded practical measures applied in the Nancun community will be rolled out in other areas to help create a better-governed society.

Cuixiang sub-district creates open communication and broadcasts discussions on television every week. [Photos courtesy WeChat anccount: zhxiangzhou]