Two sessions can make a difference to people’s lives

The first plenary session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference was held on Saturday, and the first plenary session of the 13th National People’s Congress opens on Monday. People all over the country will be watching to see how the two sessions will affect the quality of their lives. It is natural for deputies to the NPC and members of the CPPCC National Committee to put forward motions and proposals on such issues as targeted poverty alleviation, on how work can be done to tighten control over food safety, on how the burden of homework on primary and middle school students can be reduced, and on how the rural economy can be reinvigorated and the living standards of villagers considerably raised.

Other issues likely to be discussed are healthcare reform, which will hopefully provide people with cheaper and easier medical service, and the campaign to crack down on organized crimes that pose a threat to social stability.

The more people benefit from economic prosperity and social progress, the higher demands they have for the quality of their lives. It is not that Chinese people are fault finding, but that the country is at a turning point, where its economic development must realize a shift focus from quantity to quality and so too must its social management.

That explains why socialism with Chinese characteristics was said to have entered a new era at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in October. All the new targets of the Party and central government can be boiled down to the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the great improvement of the quality of Chinese people’s lives.

As a result, deputies to the NPC and members of the CPPCC National Committee are required to conduct more fact-finding missions to determine how specific problems affect the quality of people’s lives and put forward reasonable and quality motions or proposals that can make a difference.

In addition, their supervision over government work and their delivery of people’s grievances and complaints at the two sessions can also help improve governance.

It should go without saying that there can never be too much attention paid to the details when it comes to government work. The reshuffle of the government and Party institutions, which will be a focus of this year’s two sessions, is also meant to make government departments more efficient and reasonable in providing services.

So there is reason for people to expect much of the two sessions.