Ongkili briefed on China's neighbourhood committees
Sunday, 26 September 2004 (Source: Bernama)

KOTA KINABALU: Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili has returned from a six-day official visit to China where he was shown first hand how the country operates its housing and neighbourhood committees.

While in China from Sept 19, Ongkili and top officers of the National Unity and Integration Department observed patriotism development programmes and grassroots community organisations in Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai.

"The delegation also observed how China formulated and implemented its social support programmes for the aged and the disadvantaged, including orphans," Ongkili told Bernama here today.

In the three provinces visited, the delegation was briefed on and shown first hand how housing and neighbourhood committees are formed and operated in implementing programmes for national consciousness and patriotism development.

In Beijing, Ongkili held discussions with minister Li Xie Ye, who heads China's civil affairs ministry.

"While in Tianjin and Shanghai, the delegation paid courtesy calls on both cities' vice-mayors and held dialogues on community development and grassroots institutions.

"The discussion with Shanghai vice-mayor Zhou Tai Tong was most enlightening as he disclosed the city's liberal land ownership plan for investors and friendly business support to make Shanghai a competitive global financial centre," Ongkili said.

Asked on his impression of China, he said: "Modern China is a unique country which has proven its ability to implement economic liberalisation while managing successfully the socio-political changes at the grassroots level."

Information communication technology (ICT) was widely used in the commercial sector in the country, he said.

"China seems able to exploit effectively such global technology for knowledge enhancement and desired institutional change, albeit still limited, especially in the rural sector," he said.