Staff at the grassroots governance command center in Baishiyi Town, Chongqing High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, are analyzing cases on the integrated smart governance platform on August 28, 2023. (Photo/Long Fan)
Chongqing - Sales of Rongchang braised goose have surged after viral Chongqing influencer Lin Jiang, known as "Uncle (UNC)," repeatedly served the dish to American streamer iShowSpeed during his China tour, turning it into an online sensation.
To meet increased demand and ensure consistent quality, local authorities have conducted comprehensive visits to businesses along the braised goose supply chain. These efforts aim to identify needs, address challenges, and maintain safety, according to Pi Ronggang, Party Secretary of the Changzhou Subdistrict Working Committee in Rongchang District, Chongqing. He shared these details at a press conference on smart grassroots governance in Chongqing on Tuesday.
These targeted actions are a prime example of Chongqing’s commitment to building a smart grassroots governance system, known as the "one center, four sections, and one grid" model.
The "one center" refers to the grassroots governance command center at the township and subdistrict level. The "four sections" include Party building, economic development, public services, and law-based governance at the local level. The "one grid" represents village and community-level grids, explained Zhang Bo, Deputy Head of the Organization Department of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee, during the conference.
Through system restructuring, improved governance mechanisms, and resource reorganization, the city aims to shift from top-down management to coordinated interaction. This approach moves away from siloed efforts to foster joint governance and embraces smart governance practices.
Zhang highlighted three key improvements since last April.
First, the citywide restructuring has enhanced governance capabilities by focusing on the modern needs of megacities. This effort has involved system improvements, strengthening the workforce, clarifying responsibilities, and promoting the development of a smart governance system at the grassroots level.
Second, the city’s smart grassroots governance platform has significantly boosted governance capabilities. The city has developed a unified smart governance platform for towns and subdistricts, enhancing grassroots management efficiency and intelligence.
Tasks and events are now handled in a streamlined, end-to-end manner. The integrated digital urban operation and governance center at the city, district, and township levels digitizes the “grid reports, departments respond” mechanism. Routine issues are addressed by grid-based community personnel, while more complex cases are escalated through the platform. To date, community workers have reported and processed 7.79 million cases, providing timely responses to public concerns.
Municipal departments have begun sharing market entity data with township-level units. Grid-based community workers collect foundational data, which is integrated with 139 smart algorithms—including fire and smoke warnings—allowing the platform to monitor, analyze, and dispatch events automatically. This system enables timely alerts and responses to high-frequency issues and potential risks, making grassroots governance more efficient and scientific.
Third, the city has enhanced its practical governance capabilities, with a focus on safety, well-being, and development. The public is viewed as a key examiner of grassroots governance, with efforts centered on improving the operational effectiveness of the smart governance system.
Special attention is given to vulnerable groups such as elderly people living alone and left-behind children. Regular services are provided to 270,000 individuals. Grid-based community workers conduct door-to-door visits to gather public feedback and address concerns, handling over 500,000 cases through agent-based services and timely responses to urgent needs.
In terms of risk management, the city places a strong emphasis on flood and fire prevention. The smart governance platform has enabled towns and subdistricts to develop over 13,000 digital emergency response plans, which can be activated instantly to ensure rapid, intelligent action during emergencies.
For dispute resolution, community workers have mediated over 1.2 million neighborhood and property-related conflicts, helping to resolve minor issues within villages and major ones within towns and subdistricts.
A dedicated liaison system has been implemented to support businesses, with over 3.23 million proactive visits made to enterprises. Grid-based community workers have also visited more than 8,900 businesses and assisted them in securing loan support from financial institutions.