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Lianghui has become one of the most popular Chinese words
this spring among college students across China, implying their
growing enthusiasm about domestic political affairs.
Lianghui refers to the First Session of the 10th National
People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, and the First
Session of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's
Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's top
advisory body.
Wang Xiaolong, a student with the Hebei Teacher's University in
Shijiazhuang, capital of north China's Hebei Province, comes just
from the city. He used to visit his family once a month.
However, these days he hurries home, together with several
classmates, almost every day if time permits to catch the top
political meetings on television.
"All Chinese people are concerned with the ongoing Lianghui,
and we college students are no exception," Wang said.
Since the opening of the annual sessions of the NPC and CPPCC in
early March, students at the Hebei University of Economics and
Trade have been crowding from 4:00-5:00 p.m. every day in front of
the college's billboards.
The students used to rush to the cafeterias as soon as class was
over, but now they stop first at the billboards to get news about
the Lianghui, a student told Xinhua.
Currently, the Internet plays an important part among college
students, becoming a major means for them to get information about
and pay attention to the Lianghui. Now they discuss the
affairs of the NPC and CPPCC eagerly by BBS on almost all campus
websites.
Immediately after Premier Zhu Rongji delivered his report on the
government work over the past five years on March 5, college
students expressed on BBS their admiration for and satisfaction
with the government's achievements in the period.
"The last government was challenged by a grim situation both at
home and abroad when it took charge. It has managed to make such
achievements -- good for it! We'll give it a big hand," a college
student said via the Internet service, echoed by many netizens.
On
March 10 and 11, Xinhua journalists conducted a simple
random survey of 50 students at the Hebei University of Economics
and Trade and the Hebei University of Science and Technology. All
of the respondents showed deep interest when asked about their
views of the Lianghui.
Most of the students thought the proposals and motions that NPC
deputies and CPPCC members raised have direct relationship with the
prosperity of China and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and
therefore, the college students had no choice but to pay attention
to them.
"These days, the Lianghui is the hottest topic among
students in their leisure time. They also discuss it with
teachers," said Wang Xiaoling, a teacher with the Hebei Teacher's
University.
"Nowadays college students have a strong sense of independence and
pay attention to state affairs. They are aware of the fact that the
nation's future will hinge on them," Wang added.
(Xinhua News Agency March 13, 2003)
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