They’re positively upbeat

As the Party gathering nears, participants have pet topics

As one of 2,287 delegates to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Xu Chuan said on Monday the issues he cares most about all are related to education in the next five years.

“I’ ll bring my students’ opinions and suggestions on education, such as how to fulfill equal access to education and reforms in higher education, to the congress, talking with other delegates and hearing more ideas on the issues,” said Xu, 35, an associate professor of Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He operates a WeChat account with 200,000 followers.

Xu showed his excitement over the congress, which will open on Oct 18, during a meeting with reporters held by the State Council Information Office. “I hope I can get more ideas about the environment of employment or starting a business for youths in the congress and share them on the platform.”

He added that he will review reports and vote in the congress, strictly performing his duties as a delegate.

In addition to Xu, eight other young Party members from the grassroots level, including State-owned construction enterprises and private companies, shared their stories on how they joined the Party and their expectations regarding the congress.

Xu Zewei, founder of 91jinrong.com, which provides financial services, said he pays attention to the country’s plans for young people with a willingness to start up their own businesses and poverty relief.

The average age of employees in Xu’s company is 30 years old, “and thanks to policies and reforms in recent years, young people have been given more opportunities to make their business dreams come true,” he said.

Of the nine Party members, the youngest there was 25 and the oldest 42. “I feel that that our Party members are becoming younger,” Xu Chuan said, adding that helping the youth better understand the Party’s history and theories also is important.

“Many children like noting their ideas in real-time comments while watching online videos, and livestreaming is also popular among them. So I think the better way to share the Party’s knowledge is to seek the way that the young people can be easily accepted,” he suggested.

A total of 2,287 delegates have been elected from 89 million Party members to gather in Beijing for the 19th CPC National Congress. Among them, 424 are less than 45 years old, 25 more than the figure in the last congress.

ZONG CHAO / FOR CHINA DAILY Nine Party members from the grassroots level, among 424 Party delegates under 45, give a thumbs up with a State Council host (left) at the council information office in Beijing on Monday. They discussed their expectations for the congress.