Che Jun, Party secretary of East China's Zhejiang province, addresses the international forum on the significance of China's social governance to the world in Huzhou, Zhejiang on Nov 18. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

From a polluted mess to a rising industrial powerhouse, the transformation of Zhili town in Huzhou epitomizes Zhejiang's effective social governance, said Che Jun, Party chief of East China's Zhejiang province. 

Che made the remarks at an international forum held in Huzhou, Zhejiang on Nov 18 which explored the significance of China's social governance to the world. More than 200 scholars and think tank members from home and abroad were in attendance.

Zhili, a small town located in Huzhou's Wuxing county, witnessed robust growth in its textile manufacturing sector and has been known as the world's capital for children's clothing since the 1990s. By 2006, sales value of children's clothing reached 7 billion yuan ($1 billion) in the town, accounting for 25 percent of the nation's total.

However, this rapid growth, coupled with poor factory management, gave rise to a series of major workplace disasters.

A fire broke out in a five-story building in Zhili town in September 2006, killing 15 people. Just 37 days later, another fire in a garment factory killed eight people.

The town was forced to take action after the incidents. The local government shut down 901 factories which posed risks to employee residential areas and a team of more than 1,000 administrative officers was formed to carry out an 18-month campaign to crack down on unsafe garment factories and move them to allocated manufacturing zones.

The measures proved effective. Zhili is now home to 13,000 manufacturers of children's clothing and has a population of 450,000 people. 

"With a focus on high-quality development, Zhejiang will push ahead with the formation of a solid economic foundation, improve social governance, and strengthen soft power in ecology and culture," noted the official. He also expressed hope that foreign scholars will recognize the value of China's social governance through Zhejiang's success.