Yuan Yafei (member of CPPCC): Let’s raise the e-commerce industry to new heights to expand China's domestic demand

CPPCC Meeting Observations

“We should often consider these questions: What do the people expect of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)? What can the CPPCC do for the people? What has the CPPCC done for the people? We should enable governmental affairs to be discussed by the people, suggestions to be brought by the people, and work to be offered by the people.” This realistic statement made by Chairman Jia Qinglin at the opening ceremony of the CPPCC caught the attention of people both inside and outside the venue. Not only was it a requirement for members of the CPPCC to resolutely fulfill their duties, but also an ardent expectation for all representative members of the CPPCC to participate in the administration and discussion of state affairs.

2237 members of CPPCC came from 34 sectors, and all of them telites in their various walks of life. Each of the 2987 representatives of the National People’s Congress (NPC) shoulder the trust of 670,000 people, a heavy task indeed. The representative members of the CPPCC were not only concerned with the process of democracy, but also the people’s livelihoods.

This session's representatives of the NPC were elected for the first time according to the same population ratios from both rural and urban areas. Grassroots representatives, especially the proportions represented by front-line workers, farmers and professionals has increased somewhat over the past sessions, while the number of migrant worker representatives had increased dramatically, and the ratio of party and government leading cadres representatives had decreased somewhat over the past sessions. More representatives came from the front line, so they could present suggestions to share the concerns of and solve the problems of the vast majority of the people.  

Due to the change of their role from members of the public to participants in governmental affairs, they were required to show more concern for the interests of both the state and the people. Would wealthy entrepreneur representatives focus their attentions on their own industry without considering the cries of the people living in need? Would a representative leader from a certain city or county recount problems and put forward suggestions only from the perspective of his or her own city/county? Would representative members of the CPPCC who had been participating in governmental and political affairs for many consecutive years turn a blind eye or shut their mouths to any problem?  Would representative members of the CPPCC who were participating in governmental and political affairs for the first time remain silent or ignorant because of their unfamiliarity with scenarios or reduced time in politics? All these factors tested the performance of representative members in the fulfillment of their duties.

All representative members of the CPPCC should speak for and give back to the public. They are required to become more aware the CPPCC's dependance on the people, to come to know the reality felt by the people, continuously improve the quality of their interaction in government affairs and their own advice, and refrain from listening too sweepingly, reading too hastily and talking too superficially. All representatives of the NPC are required to reinforce their awareness of duty performance and their ability to participate in government and political affairs, to present suggestions and come up with innovative ideas in an across-the-board way. Just as in managing a household, managing state affairs also involves many difficulties. In particular, as far as contemporary Chinese society is concerned, although economic performance is stirring, environmental pressure has become an increasingly prominent issue; investment in people’s livelihoods has been increasing steadily, but boosting the public's sense of happiness remains a heavy responsibility. The more arduous our mission is, the more we are required to discuss together state affairs, reach consensus and offer better advice and take better actions for the public and national interests through the platforms of the CPPCC and NPC.

It was a delightful sight to see new and old representative members in political participation together at the roundtable, speaking with assurance and conviction about state affairs. Their discussion topics included national economy and people’s livelihoods. Zhang Qiuxiang, general party branch secretary  while yet in her twenties, of Shaodao community, Sanzhuang township, Sihong county, was one of  eight representatives of the NPC elected from among more than 200,000 college graduate village officials in China. She suggested that, “We should vigorously develop rural finance, because farmers need funds for developing planting and breeding industry, and it is difficult for them to borrow even fifty thousand renminbi. Farmers must pay the housing funds in single payments to buy houses, and cannot afford houses with only the help of mortgage loans like urban residents do.” Yuan Yafei, a member of the CPPCC and board chairman of the Sanpower Group, brought two motions: “To raise the e-commerce industry to new heights to expand China's domestic demand,” and “a proposal on the urbanization strategy.” He said, “Affected by the international financial crisis, much of Chinese industry has been impacted to varying extents, but e-commerce, including online shopping, has seen rapid growth in spite of nationwide recession, and become a high point in economic growth. I suggest that we take full advantage of the “golden development period” of e-commerce, to promote the formulation of new consumer models and life styles, and to cultivate a long-lasting momentum in the growth of domestic demand.” Du Guoling of Suzhou, director of the Standing Committee of the NPC, has continued to focus on ecological protection. He submitted several motions and proposals including “to accelerate the legislation on the prevention and control of soil pollution in China,” and “to improve the quality of refined oil products and viably reduce the exhaust gas pollution of motor vehicles.” Zhu Guoping, a senior representative of the “three sessions” and board chairman of Jiangsu Feida Group Co Ltd, issued a proposal to all entrepreneurs in China through the platform of the NPC and CPPCC: ‘We should create wealth rather than produce pollution; immerse ourselves in industry rather than take opportunistic actions; shoulder our responsibilities rather than shirk our obligations; execute transformation and upgrade rather than simply transfer our assets.” He continued, “As some people become rich ahead of others, we are obliged to help employees living in difficulty, support disadvantaged groups, and dedicate ourselves to charity.”  

Capability leads to position, which in turn, brings more capability. This is both an expectation and incentive for all representative members. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee pointed out, “History tells us that the future and destiny of each person is closely connected with those of his or her country and nation. Only when his or her country and nation are in a good and normal condition, can he or she live a happy life.” In a short period of just over ten days, the representative members of NPC and CPPCC fulfilled their duties for both the country and people. The submitting of motions and proposals remained smooth, and first priority was always given to the interests of the people. The voice of the people was always heard first, and the people’s satisfaction was always the prime concern. The NPC and CPPCC continue to bear witness to their embodied values through their palpable performance.  

Yuan Yafei – member of the CPPCC National Committee

                                                                                                     Lu Feng, special correspondent

                                                                     Originally carried in Xinhua Daily, March 5th 2013, pA3