Deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC) and members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) come from all parts of China and from many walks of life. To find out how the people of China are best served by their chosen representatives, china.org.cn takes a close-up look at the Congress deputies and what concerns they have for the China of today.

Wang Honghua is a cultural official from southwest China's Chongqing Municipality.

Q: To which group of the 10th National Committee of the CPPCC do you belong?

A: I am from the Culture and Art Group.

Q: What is your profession?

A: I'm the director of the Culture Bureau of Chongqing Municipality.

Q: Where are you from originally?

A: I am a native of Jiangyin, Jiangsu Province.

Q: What issues are of most concern to people in your area?

A: Citizens of Chongqing are most concerned about the development of their city, since just a little over six years ago it was made a municipality. This places it directly under the central government and on a par with Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin. It's a historic city, but in the period following 1949 it developed slowly.

To be specific, Chongqing citizens are interested in a range of issues including the Three Gorges Project; the unbalanced development between downtown Chongqing and the remote suburbs; the renovation of the city's old manufacturing sector and ambitions in high-tech; the city's internationalization process; and transportation.

Chongqing citizens are concerned about the lives and futures of the people who have been relocated owing to the Three Gorges Project. They are also interested in the project's functions: generating electricity and controlling floods. The citizens see the destiny of the city as their own.

As you know, a disastrous gas well explosion occurred in December in Chongqing, which cost many lives and left environmental contamination. The incident put Chongqing citizens on alert concerning work safety and environmental protection.

Q: What proposals will you make, and what do you hope to accomplish at this session?

A: Last year I raised a proposal on building a “cultural corridor” along the Yangtze River Valley. The Ministry of Culture responded later that although the idea is good, it's not feasible for now. I don't agree with them on this and plan to raise it again in this session. While we are developing the economy in earnest we cannot ignore culture.

My second proposal will deal with the protection of antiquities excavated from the Three Gorges Dam area. We need to map out a complete plan on their storage and protection.

I will also put forward a proposal on the protection and rejuvenation of traditional Chinese art forms, including the Sichuan Opera, which is popular in Chongqing.

Finally, I hope that I, together with fellow members, will develop some good suggestions on international affairs and national reunification issues.

Q: What are your comments on the new government leadership?

A: The new leaders, while following many of the good traditions of their predecessors, are innovative. They have brought forth some new ideas, the most important one being balanced development as opposed to pursuing only GDP growth, as before. This government has been stricter with officials at all levels and keeps close to common citizens. What impressed me the most was their calmness and swiftness in dealing with the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) crisis. People believe in and are satisfied with this intelligent, well-educated and honest leadership.

(China.org.cn by staff reporter Chen Chao, March 5, 2004)