Deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC) and members of
the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) come
from all parts of China and from many walks of life. To find out
how the people of China are best served by their chosen
representatives, china.org.cn takes a close-up look at the Congress
deputies and what concerns they have for the China of today.
Wang Honghua is a cultural official from southwest China's Chongqing
Municipality.
Q: To which group of the 10th National
Committee of the CPPCC do you belong?
A: I am from the Culture and Art Group.
Q: What is your profession?
A: I'm the director of the Culture Bureau of
Chongqing Municipality.
Q: Where are you from originally?
A: I am a native of Jiangyin, Jiangsu
Province.
Q: What issues are of most concern to people in
your area?
A: Citizens of Chongqing are most concerned
about the development of their city, since just a little over six
years ago it was made a municipality. This places it directly under
the central government and on a par with Beijing, Shanghai and
Tianjin. It's a historic city, but in the period following 1949 it
developed slowly.
To be specific, Chongqing citizens are interested in a range of
issues including the Three Gorges Project; the unbalanced
development between downtown Chongqing and the remote suburbs; the
renovation of the city's old manufacturing sector and ambitions in
high-tech; the city's internationalization process; and
transportation.
Chongqing citizens are concerned about the lives and futures of
the people who have been relocated owing to the Three Gorges
Project. They are also interested in the project's functions:
generating electricity and controlling floods. The citizens see the
destiny of the city as their own.
As you know, a disastrous gas well explosion occurred in
December in Chongqing, which cost many lives and left environmental
contamination. The incident put Chongqing citizens on alert
concerning work safety and environmental protection.
Q: What proposals will you make, and what do
you hope to accomplish at this session?
A: Last year I raised a proposal on building a
“cultural corridor” along the Yangtze River Valley. The Ministry of
Culture responded later that although the idea is good, it's not
feasible for now. I don't agree with them on this and plan to raise
it again in this session. While we are developing the economy in
earnest we cannot ignore culture.
My second proposal will deal with the protection of antiquities
excavated from the Three Gorges Dam area. We need to map out a
complete plan on their storage and protection.
I will also put forward a proposal on the protection and
rejuvenation of traditional Chinese art forms, including the
Sichuan Opera, which is popular in Chongqing.
Finally, I hope that I, together with fellow members, will
develop some good suggestions on international affairs and national
reunification issues.
Q: What are your comments on the new government
leadership?
A: The new leaders, while following many of the
good traditions of their predecessors, are innovative. They have
brought forth some new ideas, the most important one being balanced
development as opposed to pursuing only GDP growth, as before. This
government has been stricter with officials at all levels and keeps
close to common citizens. What impressed me the most was their
calmness and swiftness in dealing with the SARS (severe acute
respiratory syndrome) crisis. People believe in and are satisfied
with this intelligent, well-educated and honest leadership.
?
(China.org.cn by staff reporter Chen Chao, March 5, 2004)