Governance & Regulation

The Chinese government has set out its stall for a harmonious future and, at least on paper, corporate responsibility has a part to play

The Chinese government, in the form of the central government in Beijing and municipal, regional, provincial and township authorities, still remains by far the most important framer of the corporate responsibility debate where it exists in China.

The national government – the current administration led by Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao – has had the concept of the “harmonious society” (he xie) at its centre, shifting China’s focus from economic growth to one of societal balance and harmony. Some time in 2012, around the autumn, the Hu-Wen team will stand down and a new leadership will emerge. But it is likely that this emphasis on the harmonious society will remain in force as the guiding policy of the Chinese government. Therefore, all government statements on social policy, worker rights and corporate responsibility must be put in the context of the harmonious society policy.

Though harmonious society is of course not a...