This article by Our Commentator reads in part as follows: How to correctly handle the relations between reform, development and stability is a major question put to us by our times.

Through the practice of the reform and opening up drive, the "Experience of Fengqiao", a town in Zhuji City, Zhejiang Province, has been established as "the Party and government bear their respective responsibilities for definite work, relying on the masses, diffusing contradictions, safeguarding stability and promoting development to ensure that minor problems can be settled without going out of the village, major problems can be resolved without going out of the town and contradictions are not passed on to the leadership". The "Experience of Fengqiao" is worth being summed up and popularized.

Stability is the prerequisite for reform and development, while reform and development require a stable political and social environment. Social stability is an important condition for deepening reform, expanding opening and developing the economy. With an optimized environment, it has established a good local image and reputation, united with the forces of various quarters, enhanced the confidence of domestic and foreign investors and tried to realize sustainable development.

The success of the "Fengqiao Experience" lies in the fact that local cadres and masses have always regarded economic development and social progress as their unitary objective of struggle. They have conscientiously intensified their efforts for socialist cultural and ethical progress and strengthened construction of democracy and the legal system in grass-roots units, they have made earnest efforts to safeguard social and political stability and have blazed a new trail for the synchronous advance of stability and development, the simultaneous achievement of a comfortable life and good public order and the coordinated development of economy and society.

Based on China's national conditions, 80 percent of the population live in rural areas, rural stability is the foundation for realization of stability of the entire society. Without rural stability, there would be no stability for the society as a whole. Doing a good job in the work of rural stability is of vital importance to safeguarding the general situation of reform, development and stability.