China will make efforts to accelerate the construction of urban communities across the country, according to a circular issued here recently by the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the General Office of the State Council.
The circular calls the decision "a significant move in promoting social and economic development and improving the living standards of urban residents."
The circular says that the community construction should focus on "serving urban residents" as its ultimate goal, and the principles of orderly management and democratic autonomy should be observed in the construction.
The construction of urban communities, including community services, health care, welfare, social security, sanitation, recreational facilities and environmental protection, should be developed in an all-round manner, the circular notes.
The circular urges local governments and various departments, including civil affairs departments, to put urban community construction into the overall plan of local social and economic development.
By the end of 1999, there were 667 cities across the country boasting 5,904 sub-district offices and 115,000 neighborhood committees.
(Xinhua 12/12/2000)
