“Parenting Official (Fumu Guan) (父母官)” is a term that was often used in Chinese dynasties to call officials whose role was “to parent” the people they ruled. This is the political heritage of the official Confucius education. However, this political heritage is slowly changing in today’s China.
When interviewed on CCTV’s program “From Decision Makers (决策者说),” Chen Baosheng (陈宝生), the Communist Party Secretary of Lanzhou (兰州) said on the nationally broadcasted program: “I do not like the term ‘Parenting offcials’ We cadres are servants of the people. Ordinary people have paid their taxes, and taxpayers bought our labor. We work for the taxpayers who provide our income. We should provide good service for ordinary people.” [Original Chinese Text]
Click here to read Chinese netizens’ praise for Secretary Chen’s interview. Chen’s words are especially notable because not so long ago, the word “taxpayer” was on the forbidden list of the Central Propaganda Department.
Chen Baosheng was born in May 1956, graduated from the Economics Department of Peking University, and has been Party Secretary of Lanzhou City since November 2004.
