One day before the 17th CPC National Congress opened, Jiang Guilan, a veteran worker at a neighborhood committee in Beijing, got up early and went to Tian'anmen Square. Jiang wanted to take a closer look at the major venue -- the Great Hall of the People to the west of the square -- for the upcoming Party congress.

Although Jiang was not clear on the congress' agenda, she had much to say about the recent increases in the prices of foods. "I get off work at five o'clock. Every day I rush to the market to buy vegetables for dinner. Foods are expensive in the supermarket, so I have to go to street vendors for something cheaper even though it is not so good," she explained. Jiang hoped Party delegates could discuss the price surge and find a way to reduce the living costs for common people.

Basking in the warm early morning sun, Tian'anmen Square was ablaze with the color of 400,000 pots of flowers in full bloom. To the south of the square could be seen models of the major scenes marking key events in the history of the CPC. Before the Monument to the People's Heroes, a slogan is on display on a large electronic screen to welcome the convention of the 17th CPC National Congress.
 
After taking photos before the Great Hall of the People, Jiang told the journalist other troubles she had at work. As a neighborhood committee worker, Jiang was very concerned about policies regarding laid-off workers, public transportation, and public sanitation. "I hope the government can create more job opportunities for the laid-off in their forties and fifties," Jiang said. "Maybe food prices and re-employment are trivial matters compared with state affairs, but a country's operation is based on the daily lives of every individual. I sincerely hope the 17th National Congress of the Party can bring our common people more good news."

Liu Xin is a Beijing resident now following a master degree education at Hong Kong Baptist University. This autumn, he found a temporary job at a media company in Beijing in order to acquire more practical working skills. Although Liu Xin enjoyed an excellent academic background, he was fully aware of the severe difficulty he would face when seeking jobs. "Nowadays, it is difficult to find a job. And it will be more difficult if you have a high expectancy of your job," said Liu. "We college students hope more policies will be developed to address educational problems like student loans and employment."

Wangfujing is a famous commercial street to the east of the Tian'anmen Sqaure. No special posters are put up here to remind the hustling and bustling pedestrians about the approaching event. Wei Yijia, a white-collar worker in a foreign accounting office, told the journalist that in her company the 17th National Congress of CPC was not frequently discussed by fellow workers. However, they all knew the congress would be held soon and felt they were very close to the center of global attention in the coming days. "I hope the policies adopted at the congress can address the pressing needs of our daily life, especially the air quality and drinking water safety."

Ma Xiaodong is engaged in sales in Beijing. He said young people like him were often under heavy pressures from work, and it is now very difficult for people with a medium income to buy an apartment in big cities. "I hope the state can take more measures to effectively regulate the real estate market and I hope one day, I can live in a cozy apartment that really belongs to me."

Jia Xinrong is a newspaper vendor on a nearby street corner. As an immigrant worker, she has lived in Beijing for a decade. However, she is not recognized as a permanent resident here. Jia hoped her child could enjoy the same educational opportunities as children born in Beijing. She also hoped the government could offer medical insurance for children with a similar status like hers.

Along the street in Xidan, the busiest commercial area in Beijing, taxi drivers found several newly installed advertising boards to welcome the upcoming Party congress. "The Party gives us so much loving care and we want to do something for our country. For me, I sincerely hope I can make a contribution to the Olympics Games held in Beijing next year," said a taxi driver on the roadside of Xidan.

(China.org.cn by Chen Xia, October 15, 2007)