For the first time, common people in northwest China's Shaanxi Province are being encouraged to submit proposals concerning their daily life to deputies attending the first session of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC), to begin Wednesday in Beijing.
This marks a significant change from the traditional practice by which only official institutions or NPC deputies were eligible to make proposals.
"Seeking hot topics from all walks of life for discussion at China's top legislature is an innovation in Shaanxi and an important measure to promote democracy and improve legislation,"
said Yue Songhua, secretary-general of the Standing Committee of the Shaanxi Provincial People's Congress.
Yue expected people from all social sectors to offer their opinions on legislation in the period from Feb. 25 to March 31. The decision has been welcomed by people in various circles.
Han Weimin, a worker at the Shaanxi Provincial Center for protecting the agricultural environment, said, "It was unimaginable for ordinary Chinese to have a say in government legislation in the past. The new measure provides me a chance to voice my concerns on state forest protection."
Earlier, widespread solicitation of people's opinions on state affairs was tried out in Yunnan, Jiangxi and Gansu provinces and Shanghai Municipality.
Mu Zhenhan, a law expert, said the practice indicates that legislation in China is becoming closer to the Chinese people.
March 4, 2003
Source: Xinhua News Agency
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