By Yan Nong

"The parliamentary sessions are not only staged for the representatives to speak out but also to voice differences of opinion. The public is more likely to favor policies emerging from a process of rounds of heated argument leading to creative ideas generating optimized solutions."

It is standard procedure for representatives around China to raise proposals, join in discussions and reach agreement in the country's annual parliamentary meetings – the National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) every March. These gatherings will no doubt be wrapped up with no exceptions this year, when agreements are reached at the end of the discussions.

But why are there always agreements? Divisions on controversial issues, including the economic stimulus plan and healthcare and educational reform, must be ubiquitous among the thousands of delegates, coming from different parts of the country, holding a wide range of opinions.

The parliamentary sessions are not only staged for the representatives to speak out but also to voice differences of opinion. The public is more likely to favor policies emerging from a process of rounds of heated argument leading to creative ideas generating optimized solutions.

Take the proposal of how to deal with national unemployment caused by the global financial crisis, for example. The Zhigong Party, which has raised a proposal, provides a rare alternative to the dominant opinion that the economic stimulus plan will boost employment. According to its proposal, employment rates do not always increase in developing economies in line with international practices. So a discussion covering sophisticated economic factors is essential to an effective stimulus plan.

In addition to the nagging problem of the economy, there are also problems concerning educational and medical reforms, the social security system, food safety, household registration and rural development. Relevant proposals in these areas should also be discussed carefully and freely before decisions are reached.

(China.org.cn translated by Wu Jin, February 4, 2009)