Fang Yan [Photo/npc.gov.cn]

As a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC), she has felt the superiority of China's whole-process democracy in the performance of her duties, said Fang Yan, an NPC deputy and vice-chairwoman of the Shaanxi Province Lawyers Association. 

In the anti-epidemic battle last year, it became a daily conscious behavior for people to wear masks for protection.

Fang found that in the early stage of epidemic prevention and control, most used masks were not well treated, which was a potential risk of spreading the virus.

After investigation, Fang put forward a suggestion on the disposal of discarded masks as hazardous wastes during the COVID-19 epidemic. On Jan 30, 2020, Fang submitted this proposal to the Liaison Bureau of the NPC Standing Committee. On the early morning of Jan 31, she received a WeChat reply from the bureau. The congress had approved her proposal to properly treat the discarded masks nationwide.

"The NPC attaches great importance to the work of deputies and ensures that deputies can better perform their duties in accordance with the law," Fang said.

"I have experienced many times how the Party and State agencies respond to the voices of the people and solve their problems," Fang said.

On Feb 1, 2020, Fang submitted a proposal on the protection of vulnerable groups of minors during the COVID-19 epidemic to the NPC Standing Committee.

Ten days later, the Ministry of Civil Affairs issued its guideline on the rescue and protection of children without guardianship due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, adopting part of Fang's suggestions.

"It took only 10 days from the proposal to a specific guideline.  They attach great importance to the deputies' suggestions and shoulder their responsibilities to solve problems for the people," Fang said.

Fang added that the great practice of the fight against the epidemic has once again proved the advantages of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, and demonstrated the role of the NPC system in advancing the modernization of national governance system and capability and building a modern socialist country in an all-round way. It shows how the people's congress system guarantees that the people are the masters of the country to the greatest extent.

"During the performance of my duties, I have fully felt the NPC and its Standing Committee's unchanging aspirations of embodying the will of the people, protecting the rights and interests of the people, and ensuring that the people are the masters of the country. It is reflected in all aspects and levels of work," Fang said.

Since being elected to the NPC, Fang has submitted 26 motions and 107 suggestions, covering various fields such as the protection of the rights and interests of disadvantaged groups, the protection of the rights and interests of small and medium-sized enterprises, legal aid, family education, environmental resource protection, and the development of lawyers' practices.

Some of her suggestions have been adopted in relevant laws such as the Civil Code, the Law on the Protection of Minors, and the Law on the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency.

"Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, China's democratic political system has truly implemented democracy at all levels and in all aspects, and throughout the entire process of the Party and State agencies. It has encouraged deputies to the people's congresses at all levels to play their roles. With the people's congress system, the comprehensive leadership of the Party over the work of the people's congresses, and the development and perfection of people's democracy throughout the whole process, I have gotten a platform to make my dream of serving the people come true. In the future, I will continue to listen to the opinions of the people and offer proposals and suggestions," Fang said.