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Efficiency more vital than age

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-06-25 07:19

Zhou Senfeng is only one of the young cadres of the 1980s generation at the county level. The public should not be obsessed with his rise because now more and more young talents are likely to take leading positions, says an article in Peninsula Metropolis News. Excerpt:

Zhou Senfeng, 29, was unanimously elected mayor of Yicheng in Hubei province recently to become the youngest mayor in the province.

The news, however, has sparked a public debate, with most people wondering whether Zhou comes from a rich and powerful family, and whether such a quick promotion conforms to regulations.

But the public has ignored the fact that Yicheng is only a county-level city. And thus the mayor of Yicheng is equal to the head of a county.

Actually, the country has plenty of young cadres among the 1980s generation at the county level. On June 20, Hunan province held an open selection for 100 county-level cadres. Some local governments in Hubei province have made it mandatory that they be below 29. More than half of the 60 deputy division chiefs selected in Kunming, capital of Yunnan province, recently are from the post-1980s generation.

It cannot be denied that there are some back-door dealings in cadres' selection in some areas. But having more young leading cadres is something that should be encouraged.

The young mayor needs to be honest and has to contribute to the development of the city to fulfill public expectation.

(China Daily 06/25/2009 page9)