SCIO press conference on 'China: Democracy That Works' white paper
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E-mail China.org.cn, December 7, 2021
Red Star News:
We all know that the deputies to community-level people's congresses are selected through direct election while those in the higher levels of people's congresses are elected indirectly. Will the current system mean that the suggestions and voices from ordinary people, especially vulnerable groups, will not be reflected in the highest level and be considered in the country's decision-making? Thank you.
Guo Zhenhua:
The system of people's congresses is an important institutional support to whole-process people's democracy. The deputies to people's congresses in China, no matter at the national or community level, all come from the people and are rooted in the people. In addition, the deputies to people's congresses will stay in their original work positions after being elected so that they are in close contact with the people.
In recent years, the people's congresses at all levels have set up more than 220,000 stations for the deputies to be in contact with the people, covering all townships and subdistricts across the country, and even some communities and villages. Deputies to the people's congresses at all levels receive information from the people and listen to their opinions at the stations on a regular basis. Such a system determines that deputies to the people's congresses in China are not career politicians and do not represent any particular interests. Therefore, they can truly and directly understand the people's aspirations and wishes, and submit the people's suggestions and advice through agencies of state power. At the NPC session each year, nearly 3,000 deputies will submit thousands of documents providing suggestions and advice. In this year's fourth session of the 13th NPC, the deputies put forward 8,993 suggestions, among which, the people's well-being was the biggest topic of discussion. For example, they discussed easing the burden of excessive homework and off-campus tutoring for students undergoing compulsory education, improving rural elderly care service systems, advancing a "toilet revolution" in rural areas, promoting the sorting of urban household waste, and improving social security for flexible employees such as delivery personnel. The suggestions bear the people's pursuit for a better life, reflect their aspirations, and demonstrate the responsibilities that the deputies have shouldered to hear the people's voices, pool the people's wisdoms, and benefit the people's lives. State organs carefully review the suggestions proposed by the deputies in accordance with law, and research and adopt reasonable suggestions in their work, including in their decision-making. They respond actively to social concerns and each and every one of the people's aspirations.
Thank you.
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