The Communist Party of China has a set of rules for cadre selections and appointments at all levels. Integrity and ability are seen as the most important requirements of any official. Today, the party has been working on enhancing these regulations, and has called for increased inspections on cadres' loyalty and political performances. The Organization Department is in charge of cadre selection and wields a lot of power in the selection process. Few people know how it goes about this business, because it's mostly an internal procedure. However, our correspondent Zheng Yibing got a rare chance to visit the Organization Department of the Ganzi Tibet Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China's Sichuan Province to see how they choose their cadres.

 

This is a survey trip for county-level cadre selection in western Sichuan province. Huang Lijian, an official from the Ganzi Tibet Autonomous Prefecture, is about to scrutinize one of the candidates in a local township.

 

HUANG LIJIAN, SECTION CHIEF ORGANIZATION DEPT., GANZI CPC PARTY COMMITTEE "Mr. secretary. We have just climbed over the Mount Zheduo, and will be arriving. See you soon."

 

The candidate is working in the Tibetan-inhabited township of Gaba, some 80 kilometers west of Kangding, the capital of Ganzi. With less than two years'experience, his qualifications for the role must be carefully assessed. For Huang and his team, they must make sure the field survey is ethical.

 

HUANG LIJIAN, SECTION CHIEF ORGANIZATION DEPT., GANZI CPC PARTY COMMITTEE "We hope that every one of you will be responsible to the Party and the cadre candidate, and perform an objective and fair evaluation."

 

The interviewers are required to fill out an anonymous questionnaire, covering different aspects of the candidate. This, according to Huang, is the first step on whether they proceed with the selection of the candidate.

 

ZHENG YIBING GANZI TIBETAN AUTONOMOUS PREFECTURE, SICHUAN PROVINCE "After this group survey of the candidate, Mr. Huang and his team will do a further inspection."

 

Random face-to-face interviews are also conducted. Huang said this is to gain a full understanding of the character and working style of the candidate. Such work is regular for them in Ganzi, a rugged mountainous prefecture with an area of more than 150,000 square kilometers. Back in Kangding, the officials are searching through the candidate's file. They also consult with staff from other sections of the department. And a psychological test is also included.

 

ZHENG YIBING KANGDING, GANZI, SICHUAN PROVINCE "After numerous inspections, the organization department will deliver a written report for deliberation. And if there is no dissent during the public scrutiny process, the final appointment will be agreed upon."

 

A publicity period lasts five days, and his information is checked via television, newspapers and websites. But the inspection is not limited to just this.

 

WANG YEJUAN, SECTION CHIEF ORGANIZATION DEPT., GANZI CPC PARTY COMMITTEE "We also appointed supervisors from the public in 2013 to supervise our daily work, and the cadre selection in our prefecture."

 

The appointment of cadres covers a specified procedure, from putting forward a motion, and assessments and deliberations, to taking office and disciplinary inspections. A set of provisional rules on the appointment and selection of party cadres was issued in China in 1995, and formally enacted seven years later. A new version was promulgated in 2014. For Huang, such a process shows there's a will for a better political environment.

 

CHINA CADRE SELECTION Provisional rules on the appointment and selection of cadres issued in 1995 Rules formally enacted in 2002 New version promulgated in 2014

 

HUANG LIJIAN, SECTION CHIEF ORGANIZATION DEPT., GANZI CPC PARTY COMMITTEE "Our country has been improving and making new ordinances, and we feel it's more scientific and normalized when we apply them during our work."

 

As for the standards of cadre selection, Huang said that his department is putting more emphasis on integrity, and that only those with an honest and upright character can be appointed.

 

HUANG LIJIAN, SECTION CHIEF ORGANIZATION DEPT., GANZI CPC PARTY COMMITTEE "Through the field survey and interviews, we get to know a cadre candidate through different angles, and form a scientific reference for Party cadre selection after a comprehensive analysis."

 

Party cadre selection and appointment in remote places like Ganzi is not simple, and stricter rules are being applied for the good of the locals, especially among the ethnic minorities. But for Huang and his colleagues, a fair and efficient cadre selection is always their main goal. Zheng Yibing, CGTN, Ganzi in Sichuan Province.