While referring to their impressions of Zhang Bailin, the newly elected Minister of Personnel, many of his former colleagues would use the words of "modest, sincere, prudent and hardworking." In an interview with Xinhua News Agency, Zhang gives his view on issues concerning China's personnel system and the reforms ahead.

New Policies Must Be Implemented

"The emphasis of our work from now on is to implement the new policies concerning the country's personnel system," Zhang told the Xinhua reporter. "Take the civil servant examination for example, about 38 percent of the newly recruited civil servants haven't taken the exam and most of them have taken jobs in governments of city and prefecture levels or lower. We should first fully implement the examination system at city and prefecture levels and then promote it to the counties and townships."

Zhang detailed his requirements for the work: "We should be strict in administration and decisive in implementation; improve our work efficiency and clearly define our tasks to ascertain each one's responsibility," he said. "And the situation and progress in this campaign should be reported timely."

Talents: Key to the Construction of An Affluent Society

Zhang worked in the Bohai Shipyard 30 years ago, in charge of personnel affairs. He was transferred to and out of the Organization Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China twice, and then moved to the Ministry of Personnel. This experience gave him a unique understanding of the human resource problem.

Zhang said that to build an all-round affluent society, there must be tens of thousands of constructors as well as high-quality and talented personnel. He stressed that human resource is the most important resource. "Today, when there is high international competition, if we don't have a large contingent of talented people, we can hardly reach our goal of building an all-round affluent society and rejuvenating our country," he said.

"As to the problem of a brain drain, we shouldn't stop it through rigid measures," he continued. "What counts is an optimum working environment, the encouragement for them to develop their talents, the sincere concern for them and reasonable treatment."

Zhang pointed out that with the implementation of the interim regulations of public service over the last 10 years, a high-level and professional civil servant troop has taken shape. The reform of China's personnel system is deepening and is currently focusing on the salary system, which has also drawn wide public attention, he said.

Zhang noted that the strategy for the development of human resources is a national strategy. Personnel departments at various levels should fully carry out relevant policies and regulations in line with the principles worked out at the 16th CPC National Congress and do their best to remove all barriers that hinder talent-tapping and improve services in personnel affairs. The reforms in the civil service system, the personnel management of state-supported institutions and the salary and welfare system are key projects for the time being. The human resources market should be strengthened and personnel trainings should be further developed so as to make breakthroughs in the reform of China's personnel system. In short, Zhang said, only by building an energetic personnel system and recruiting the talented and virtue, letting each person give full play of his or her ability, can an all-round economic development be guaranteed.

(China.org.cn by Li Xiao April 17, 2003)