It is a basic right granted by the Constitution and law of a deputy to people's congresses to submit motions or make proposals in accordance with legal procedures, and that it is the main way in which a deputy performs his or her duties.

In October, deputies to the 13th National People's Congress conducted inspections and embarked on research into issues such as economic and social development, people's daily life concerns and their needs and expectations.

Fang Min, an NPC deputy, surveyed an affiliated heating power company of Ningxia Electric Power Investment Group and learned that the company charges schools, kindergartens, orphanages and other units at residential heating prices. This is a benefit to the public. Heating companies, however, still have to pay value-added tax and cannot enjoy prescribed tax preferential policies.

Summarizing the opinions of relevant enterprises and institutions, Fang suggested that public welfare institutions should be included in the heating tax preferential policy to promote State-owned enterprises and public welfare during the fourth session of the 13th NPC.

Zhi Hui is another NPC deputy from the grassroots levels and the only one representing the Henan Railway System. She invited the managers of the dispatching workshop of Zhengzhou North Railway Station and college students to discuss suggestions to establish a sound emergency warning mechanism for railway emergencies with the joint efforts of relevant railway units and local police.

Over the past few years, Zhi has put forward suggestions on solving the problem of reimbursement for medical treatment involving different places, incorporating railway public safety into public-interest litigation of procuratorates, and placing the adjustment of the transportation structure into the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25).

In the past two years, many standing committees of the local people's congresses have explored soliciting proposals from the public through online platforms due to the need of epidemic prevention and control.

Deputies have made in-depth surveys and studies, listened to the opinions of the people, and put forward high-quality proposals. This is a vivid and well-grounded manifestation of observing people's sentiments and benefiting their livelihoods. It is an indispensable part of whole-process people's democracy practices. 

The voices of the people responded

On April 6, a meeting on the handling of proposals and opinions put forward by deputies to the fourth session of the 13th NPC was held in Beijing. A total of 8,993 proposals were handed over to 194 State organs for further replies.

Twenty-two key supervisory recommendations identified by the General Office of the NPC Standing Committee, involving more than 300 proposals, were undertaken by 17 government agencies including the National Development and Reform Commission.

A staff member from the proposal handling office of the Liaison Bureau of the General Office of the NPC Standing Committee said that the handling of key supervision proposals is an important measure for efficiency enhancement.

Since the fourth session of the 13th NPC, a total of 73 key supervision recommendations have been identified, involving more than 960 suggestions and some 2,200 deputies, and covering aspects such as implementing rural revitalization strategies and adhering to the regional coordinated development strategy.

The voice of the people becomes reality

Speaking about the efficiency of handling suggestions, Yu Huiwen, a deputy to the 13th NPC, said: "I didn't expect to achieve practical results so quickly. It only took about three months from the time I formally put forward the suggestions to when I received the exact feedback."

In May 2020, during the third session of the 13th NPC, Yu put forward a suggestion to incorporate the Dazu Rock Carvings into national teaching material. After the meeting, the proposal was handed over to the Ministry of Education for research and processing.

From 2018 to 2020, NPC deputies put forward a number of suggestions to the NPC and the problems raised in the proposals were basically solved.  [Photo by Chen Tao/npc.gov.cn]

Soon, Yu received a call from the department of teaching materials of the Ministry of Education. The official in charge said that they have initially agreed to revise the teaching materials. The 31-meter-long Dazu Rock Carvings, known as the Reclining Buddha, have been included into the second volume of the seventh grade of Chinese History subject.

"The NPC, its Standing Committee, and relevant government institutions should answer the voices of the people and give full play to the advantages of the people's congress system to realize the whole-process people's democracy in our country. We should reflect the will of the people and enhance their well-being," Yu said.

This is also the view of Liu Zhi, a deputy to the 17th Tianjin Municipal People's Congress.

In January 2020, during the third session of the 17th Municipal People's Congress, Liu put forward proposals on coordinating and resolving the issue of historical property right certificates as soon as possible.

After receiving the suggestions, the Tianjin municipal transportation commission organized an on-site symposium with institutes such as the deputy office of the standing committee of the municipal people's congress, the municipal government's suggestion office, the municipal planning and resources bureau, the municipal housing and urban-rural development committee, and relevant housing property units and householders. In August, the owners got the housing ownership certificates.

The picture of the Dazu Rock Carved Sakyamuni Nirvana Sacred Remains now appears in the second volume of the seventh grade of the Chinese History subject. [Above: VCG; Below: Photo by Qu Bo]

"It took seven months to solve the problem of 20 years of delay. This process shows that the people's congress system is a good system. It has gathered a solid foundation of public opinions for scientific decision-making and demonstrated the whole-process people's democracy," Liu said.

NPC deputies speak for the people, and the people's right to know, participate, express, and supervise is implemented in all aspects of the work of the people's congresses. Throughout the process, the system ensures that the Party and the country can hear the people's voices in all aspects of decision-making and satisfy people's yearning for a better life. 

The problem of 48 households without property rights certificates in Tianfuli, Hexi district, Tianjin municipality, is resolved. The owners present a plaque to the standing committee of the Hexi district people's congress to express their gratitude. [Photo by Liu Longzhu/npc.gov.cn]