The Imperative of Returning to the Fundamental Principles of the "Three Gongs" [Openness, Fairness, and Justice]

Daniel J. Mitterhoff, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law

Article comments

Article published in Chinese under title: "Huigui 'SanGong' Genben Yuanze Kebu Ronghuan."

Abstract

This commentary highlights the failure to set policy priorities under China’s near decade old government procurement system and bemoans the consequences of China's mixed policy signals. The author calls for China to return focus upon the guiding principles of the three “gongs”--“gongkai,” “gongping” and “gongzheng” (translated as “openness, fairness and justice) . Before China can rationally and successfully pursue secondary socio-economic policies through government procurement, or alternatively open its public procurement market to foreign suppliers, it must first master the art of maximizing competition for public contracting opportunities in its domestic public purchasing regime.