At a Communist Party Congress meeting in November 2002, Chinese President Hu Jiantao called for greater transparency and accountability in the party’s Central Committee. This, he said, “will serve as a model which other levels of the party and the government can emulate.” His comments introduced a new era in Chinese political systems, and it surprised many observers.

But not William Sullivan, director of Maxwell’s 40-year-old Executive Education program, who says “the changes in the public sector are driven by economic concerns and really not surprising at all. . . . As its economy expands, China takes on an increasingly important role as a citizen in the world community. For China to operate as a leader of the global community, its government must be responsive and accountable to the needs of its people.”

Sullivan has a rare perspective on the operation of Chinese government. For more than 12 years, the Executive Education program has worked with the China National School of Administration and the Chinese government to promote reform and professionalize the civil service.

Four Chinese students who attended Maxwell last year, via Executive Education, provide evidence of the modernization of Chinese government. These four students, who received their M.A.s in December, reflect how the culture of public administration is changing in China.

For one, they studied at Maxwell under the auspices of the Fumin Foundation, which was created by Japanese entrepreneur Tsukamoto Yukishi to enhance social and economic development in China by sponsoring foreign study for government officials. The foundation has sent numerous Chinese students to universities around the world to cultivate their understanding of current trends.

At Maxwell, these students testified as to the willingness and eagerness of the Chinese government to change. “The Chinese government now faces the challenge of balancing the interests of the community, the individual, and different stakeholders simultaneously,” says Hong Li, one of the four students. Li is director general of foreign affairs in the Fuzhou Municipal Government. “The nascent influx of foreign investment, growth in technology, and globalization is forcing the government to think of the long term,” he adds. “As a result, our government is becoming more participatory.”

Many recognize that government change will not come overnight. Xianyi Liu, managing director of the Fujian Provincial Central Inspection Institute, points out that “the concept of public administration is relatively new in China. Therefore, we must learn from the West.” Liu plans to teach courses in public administration at various universities in Fujian province. “After our ascension to the WTO, it has become very evident that there is a great need for leaders who have effective public management skills,” he says.

Others expect that Chinese society will change as the government adapts to prosperity. Yankun He, vice director of economic planning and development in the Zhangzhou municipal government, says, “We must strive to make government more responsive to all citizens regardless of socio-economic status. If we are to achieve this, it is imperative that our civil servants are well versed in the concepts of modern public administration. We must ensure that every citizen has access to the most basic services. More importantly, we must have the ability to create a more level playing field in society so that everyone has the opportunity to succeed.”

“Since opening up to the outside world, China has undergone great change and reform,” says Yahui Huang, deputy mayor of Shunchang County in Fujian Province, responsible for education, culture, media, health, and family planning. “Government administration has grown in complexity with new problems and situations arising every year. This is why I have come to the Maxwell School to study public administration. I look forward to taking everything I have learned here and applying it in China.”

With the exception of Li (who is pursuing a Ph.D.), the “Fumin scholars” have returned to China. But Sullivan sees them as a sign of things to come.

“We are seeing more and more students from almost every part of the Chinese government,” he concludes. “As China continues on its path, Maxwell will continue to serve as an educational institute for its public servants.”              

—Alex Kersis

This article appeared in the Spring 2005 print edition of Maxwell Perspective; © 2005 Maxwell School of Syracuse University. To request a copy, e-mail dlcooke@maxwell.syr.edu.