Singaporean James Cai Mao may not know the meaning of the "scientific outlook on development", a highly publicized slogan in China, but the political catchphrase might bring him business opportunities.
His opportunity came as China launched an 18-month campaign starting last September to "further study and apply" the creed of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
Cai, who was born in southwest China's Guizhou Province in 1962 and now a Singaporean citizen, wrote to the provincial party chief Shi Zongyuan on Oct. 23, the very day when Shi publicized an e-mail address to solicit public suggestions to develop, based on the "scientific outlook", the poor inland province.
Shi's move was part of the campaign, which required officials open their minds, listen more to the people and improve efficiency.
In his mail, Cai suggested the province build health farms, where urban people could go for a healthful regimen of regular exercise and special diets, as a way to promote agriculture and create jobs for rural residents.
"I've been living and working abroad for more than 20 years. I hope to introduce some advanced ideas and technology to my hometown to help its development," Cai, a researcher with a computer science institution in Singapore, told Xinhua in an e-mail.
Seeking scientific solutions
Suggestions like Cai's, which can inspire officials with specified development idea rather than empty theory, might be what they hope to see at the upcoming sessions of the top political advisory body and the parliament.
The two sessions are usually regarded as a major platform for officials to solicit people's suggestions.
The most important annual political events, the full sessions of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the National People's Congress (NPC), will discuss and work out measures for economic and social development.
With international financial crisis still spreading, this year's "two sessions" are expected to attract intensive public and media attention, with focus on how the country can pull through the crisis under the guideline of the scientific outlook.
The political advisors in Beijing for their annual meeting showed in their proposals great concern to the country's 4-trillion-yuan (585.5 billion U.S.dollars) stimulus package, saying efforts should be made to prevent "overlapping construction," according to Zhao Qizheng, spokesman of the CPPCC National Committee's annual session.
A proposal on easing unemployment pressure under the background of international financial turmoil, raised by the Central Committee of the non-communist China Zhi Gong Party, has been listed as the No.1 proposal of this year's session of the CPPCC National Committee.