Hu Ying

Hu Ying

Associate Professor, School of Economics and Management, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University

Hu Ying is an associate professor at the School of Economics and Management at Zhejiang Sci-Tech University. She is also a researcher at the Zhejiang Academy of Ecological Civilization, a member of the Zhejiang Agricultural Economics Association, and a member of the Qiantang River Culture Research Association. Her main research areas are rural economics and rural governance.

A farmer tends to his rice field in the village of Yangchao in Liping County, Guizhou province, China, 11 June 2021. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)

Governing modern Chinese villages is a big challenge

Chinese academic Hu Ying notes that rural governance in China is facing new and diverse sets of challenges. While traditional rural governance looks after people's need for money, food and to protect their livelihoods, current rural issues could include the provision of public services, targeted poverty alleviation, land management and ecological protection. Not only that, traditional value systems are now a thing of the past as villagers gain an increased awareness of individual rights. The authorities would need different skills, and to be supported by new social structures in order to do their job well.