During a press conference held on October 21, titled “Five Years of Civil Affairs,” Wang Xiaodong, Deputy Director of the Department of Geographical Names at the Ministry of Civil Affairs, discussed the ongoing updates to China’s National Geographic Names Database. The database now contains over 14 million entries, and the information has been included in the State Council’s data-sharing framework, which supports the modernization of the national governance system and enhances governance capabilities.
Wang emphasized the close connection between geographic names and daily life. He remarked that effective geographic name management is a crucial element of social governance and an essential part of civil affairs work. Over the past few years, the ministry has taken significant steps to revise and implement the “Regulations on Geographic Name Management,” focusing on enhancing both geographic name services and cultural protection and preservation.
Firstly, he highlighted the establishment of a new framework for geographic name work. With its wide scope and numerous participating departments, the regulations have clarified a management system defined by “unified supervision and graded responsibilities.” This system has improved interdepartmental coordination, effectively creating a collaborative environment where relevant authorities each play their part in managing geographic names. This has led to a noticeable increase in the capacity for lawful administration in this field, making management principles more scientific and operational methods more efficient, thus elevating the significance of geographic work within the national governance framework.
Secondly, Wang outlined new requirements for the management of naming and renaming geographic locations. One of the primary focuses of the revised regulations is to standardize the naming and renaming processes to curb the emergence of non-compliant geographic names. Building upon the regulatory framework, the Ministry has developed implementation guidelines that direct relevant departments to establish supportive systems for name management. To date, over 152,000 names have been registered and publicly announced. The ministry aims to highlight Chinese cultural symbols and the national identity in new geographic names while preserving traditional names to prevent the arbitrary alteration of established ones.
Lastly, Wang spoke about the enhanced value of geographic name services. Geographic names play a vital role in various aspects of life, including social governance, cultural transmission, international engagement, and even national defense. The ministry has prioritized serving national strategic interests through ongoing standardization efforts, leading initiatives like the “Famous Villages” campaign, which has standardized 450,000 rural names to help protect national interests while supporting rural development. The ministry has also emphasized the importance of preserving and promoting Chinese geographic culture, collaborating with major media outlets to produce programs like “China Geographic Names Conference,” which has reached over 3 billion views across multiple platforms. Furthermore, they are actively participating in international discussions on geographic names to showcase China’s cultural heritage, with the “China Geographic Names Conference” receiving high acclaim.
In conclusion, Wang noted that the continuous update and improvement of the National Geographic Names Database, now with over 14 million entries, has been included in the State Council’s data-sharing list. This foundational information is essential for modernizing governance frameworks and enhancing governmental effectiveness.
