Chapter One
——Zhejiang, a Microcosm of China in Social Governance

In May 2004, when Xi Jinping was Secretary of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee, “Peaceful Zhejiang” was proposed and implemented. A comprehensive program about law and order, it has laid theoretical and practical foundation for ongoing efforts towards even stronger and more innovative forms of social governance and the higher level Peaceful China initiative. In April 2006, also a time when Xi Jinping was at the helm in Zhejiang, the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee adopted the Decision on the Building of “Law-based Zhejiang”, becoming the first to explore ways to promote the rule of law across the province. In more than a decade, the rule of law has been advanced in the spheres of economy, politics, culture, society and the environment within Zhejiang. This has provided an excellent example in promoting law-based country and government.

From “Peaceful Zhejiang” to “Law-based Zhejiang”, the experience of the province in social governance contributed to the development of “Peaceful China”, “Law-based China” and other important elements in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Stories like these are aplenty in Zhejiang. To a certain extent, social governance in the province can be deemed as representing in microcosm the impressive results of the social governance model currently implemented across China.

In October 2016, after the 11th G20 Summit (also known as the G20 Hangzhou Summit) came to a close, President Xi Jinping, who had formerly served as Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), encouraged local residents and officials to “adhere to the spirit of Zhejiang, work diligently, stay at the forefront, and bravely ride the waves”. His words spurred people to further efforts. Looking back upon the past, we can see clearly that Zhejiang, a province at the forefront of the country and an important place where Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era began to be nourished, has provided a great many exemplary programs for the whole country.

In May 2004, when Xi Jinping was Secretary of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee, “Peaceful Zhejiang” was proposed and implemented. A comprehensive program about law and order, it has laid theoretical and practical foundation for ongoing efforts towards even stronger and more innovative forms of social governance and the higher-level Peaceful China initiative. In April 2006, also a time when Xi Jinping was at the helm in Zhejiang, the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee adopted the Decision on the Building of “Law-based Zhejiang”, becoming the first to explore ways to promote the rule of law across the province. In more than a decade, the rule of law has been advanced in the spheres of economy, politics, culture, society and the environment within Zhejiang. This has provided an excellent example in promoting law-based country and government.

From “Peaceful Zhejiang” to “Law-based Zhejiang”, the experience of the province in social governance contributed to the development of “Peaceful China”, “Law-based China” and other important elements in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Stories like these are aplenty in Zhejiang. To a certain extent, social governance in the province can be deemed as representing in microcosm the impressive results of the social governance model currently implemented across China.

West Lake of Hangzhou