Research On The Coordination Of Vertical Intergovernmental Relation In The Building Of Service-oriented Government

Relations among governments are also called intergovernmental relations, it isnecessary to coordinate intergovernmental relations effectively in order to achievespecific policy objectives. The coordination of vertical intergovernmental relationsfrom central to local governments is one of major political problems which a stateneeds to confront and deal with. It is helpful for China to coordinate verticalintergovernmental relations reasonably and effectively. It is helpful to keep ourcountry unity, long-term stability, keep ethnic unity and harmony and commonprosperity, it is helpful to promote the progress of socialist democratic politics withChinese characteristics, it is also helpful to improve administrative efficiency,enhance the overall capacity of the government to promote economic and socialcause sustainable develop.Since the reform and opening, although several major reforms of verticalintergovernmental relations has promoted the development of economic, progress ofpolitics and society, However, these reforms did not completely straighten out thevertical intergovernmental relations. Serious problems, such as levels of governmentis too much, decentralization of responsibility, the level of democratization and therule of law is low, positive interaction mechanism is imperfect, participation ofsocial forces is inadequate are still exist. These problems caused administrative costsare too high, policy implementation is not smooth, and responsiveness ofgovernment is poor. Executive ability and credibility of government are questionedby the public; the legitimacy of government faces severe challenges.At present, China is in transition, globalization and marketization of economic,democratization of politics, differentiation of social structure diversification of socialconsciousness and the world trends of public administration reform have causedprofound effect to administrative reform of China. In this context, the CPC CentralCommittee and State Council made a strategic decision to accelerate the reform ofthe administrative system and building service-oriented government. It is one ofimportant goals of the administrative reform at present and in the future. To achieve successfully this strategic objective, it is necessary for all level governments toestablish a"citizen centered"and"social standard"service concept, to changefunctions, optimize the setup, construct and coordinate intergovernmental relationsin a rational way, achieve positive interaction among governments, innovate andchange the ways and means of governmental work, implement the service obligationof government. Changing government functions is the necessary requirements andfundamental way to achieve the objective of building service-oriented government.The key of changing government functions is to determine intergovernmentalresponsibilities reasonably from the two dimensions of horizontal and vertical.During promoting the building of service-oriented government, governments shouldfollow principles: democratization, the rule of law, cooperation, coordinates verticalintergovernmental relations scientifically, effectively by follow paths: reduce thelevels of government, improve administrative efficiency and reduce administrativecosts; perfect the legal system to achieve a change of coordinating manner from therule of man to the rule of law; plan scientifically and rationally identify the functionsof government at all levels; innovate system, explore new positive interactionmechanism of vertical intergovernmental relations; expand participation, reinforcethe civil society foundation of coordination of vertical intergovernmental relations.