 Guangzhou municipal government held a charity gala recently to raise money for the rural areas. In the gala, the mayor of Guangzhou Zhang Guangning sang a song, which brought in donations of more than 10 millions yuan immediately.
Reporter:
An article from the China Youth Daily commentator welcomes the mayor's move, saying it is an improvement in politics for a local officer to use his official position for public interests. The mayor's singing helps with enhancing the government's prestige and also building his own image.
As an official, the mayor has greater public and political influence than the common people, which is why enterprises donated so generously. Since the identities of the officials are endowed by the public, they ought to take advantages of their positions and influences to serve the public.
More and more officials are following such theory these days. They don't just put forward policies, but also try to pool the strength of the entire society using their influences. Singing in the charity gala, showing their artistic works in public activities are examples of such kind. Moreover, the event shows the equal relations between the mayor and the entrepreneurs.
Nanfang Metropolis News also carried an article approving the move of the mayor. Its social effect is obvious for the ten million yuan donated.
Meanwhile, the writer points out that there is one question to be considered. That is, why was the mayor's singing able to attract enterprises to contribute such large amount of money. Now in China, the appearances of officers can bring about much more donations than those of celebrities in the intelligentsia and entertainment fields. It should be admitted that the reason of the businessmen's generosity is the high position of the mayor in the city. When the officials show their kindness to the public, the entrepreneurs are more eager to show their attitude to the authorities.
In a healthy charity environment, the public figures' capacity of collecting money depends on their own public images. The writer says it would be better if Zhang Guangning can still bring about donations in millions after his retirement.
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