Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No. 5, 2025

The Theoretical Framework and Implementation Pathway for the Equalization of Basic Public Services in China

(Abstract)

Weng Lie’en

At this new stage of development, the proposal to enhance the balance and accessibility of basic public services is both a necessary result of advancing productivity and a practical step toward realizing a people-centered development philosophy. It reflects efforts to improve people’s livelihoods and meet the growing public demand for a better life. Since the launch of reform and opening-up, China’s public services have progressed through four key phases: the initial articulation of the government’s role in service provision; early efforts toward supply-side-driven equalization of basic public services; the diversification of policy tools aimed at equalization and accessibility; and, most recently, governance innovations to improve both balance and accessibility. Drawing on principles from China’s modernization path, the idea of a service-oriented government, and the people-centered development philosophy, a theoretical framework can be distilled around “institutional integration, resource coordination, and governance innovation.” This framework allows for more targeted analysis of how provinces are working toward equalizing public services as part of the broader drive for common prosperity. Within the overarching vision of Chinese modernization, practical pathways to improving basic public service equity include building an inclusive and universal public service system, aligning service supply with demand, enhancing performance through multi-actor coordination, and leveraging digital innovation for governance. Together, these approaches point toward new methods for strengthening China’s public service infrastructure.