22/11/2019
On November 14, the 4th Symposium of Standardization and Governance was held in Changsha, China. Quality infrastructure researchers and experts from colleges and research institutes from around the world shared their experience and research achievements on standardization governance and how standards guide and facilitate industry development.
ZHANG Gang, deputy director of the China Standardization Expert Committee and leader of the drafting group of the State Council’s Quality Development Outline (2010-2020) introduced China’s efforts on NQI improvement from a macroscopic perspective: in 2017, the Guiding Opinions of the State Council on Quality Improvement Action for the first time included the construction of the NQI system in the Chinese government’s main work objectives, while earlier in 2014, a series of government-funded R&D projects have been carried out to explore advanced technologies and methods to improve the Chinese NQI system. Among these projects, the most influential one is the China Standards 2035; the project’s first R&D stage has ended, and a general report is being drafted. ZHANG Gang proposed that China should accelerate research on NQI fundamental theory and practice, include NQI in the overall national development plan, design NQI effectiveness evaluation methods, and conceptualize the “Standardization +”, which includes expanding the standardization work scope from industry to agriculture and service and change the focus from standard formulation to standard implementation and life-cycle management.
HOU Junjun, Director of the Division of Social Sciences and Humanities of Hunan University, analysed the development of China’s standardization technical organizations (TCs, SC, WGs) and the supply of Chinese national standards. Among 1315 standardization TCs, SCs, and WGs disclosed in the National Standard Information Public Service Platform, 48% of the secretariats of these organizations are now held in research institutes and 19% are in state-owned enterprises; geographically, nearly half of the Chinese standardization technical organizations are located in Beijing, while only 9% are in Shanghai. During the past 20 years, the standardization technical organizations held by private enterprises increased by 481%, compared to an increase of 133% in state-owned enterprises. On the other hand, Chinese national standards surged during 2007-2010, since then the number of Chinese national standards exceeded international standards. Compared to international standards, 15 categories of Chinese standards (classified by ICS code) are in short supply while 9 categories are in excess supply. According to these analyses, HOU Junjun concluded that standardization governance in China is becoming more active due to the participation of social and private organizations, which has also increased China’s national standards supply.
SESEC, as a representative of the European Standardization System in China, made a presentation on the Vienna Agreement and the Frankfurt Agreement. It provided Chinese academic communities with a good reference for the construction of China’s standardization governance system, especially China’s standard internationalization strategy and smooth integration into the existing international standardization system.
Agenda of the 4th Symposium of Standardization and Governance