NGO's - Meant to 'serve the government'

China had by the end of the year 289,000 'civilian organizations' as they are called in this dispatch of the official Xinhua newswire. More remarkable is the pro-government twist this article gives to the fast expanding feature of the non-governmental organizations.

Chinese NGOs, different from some NGOs in western countries that take pride in anti-government practices, act under the principle of "supporting and cooperating with the government," according to Sun Gonglin, secretary general of the China Society for Promotion of the Guangcai Program, an NGO composed of private businesspeople to help reduce poverty.

and:

"Civilian organizations have become important social organizations in China and they have exerted positive influence in boosting China's economic growth and helping maintain social stability," said Li Yong of the Ministry of Civil Affairs.