Deputies to the National People's Congress come from all parts of
China and from many walks of life. For some, this will be their
first National Congress to serve for five years as a representative
for the people of their area. For others, it will be business as
usual, in a changing China. 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.
Here we meet Shen Aiqin, a Chinese businesswoman.
Shen Aiqin, 57, is chairwoman of the Wensli Group, a large
private-run enterprise in east China's Zhejiang Province. Starting
her business from scratch in 1975, Shen now owns a modern
enterprise group focusing on silk production, biotechnology, real
estate and shopping malls, with total assets of 650 million yuan
(US$).
Wensli brand silk, the main product of the Wensli group has sold
well in both domestic and overseas markets. Many silk products make
for unique presents on occasion such as the APEC conference in
Shanghai in 2001.
Shen was also a deputy to the 9th National People's Congress, and
is a role model for Chinese women. She speaks exclusively to
China.org.cn.
Q: What is the issue of most concern to people in your area
of China?
A: They are mainly concerned about how to promote an
"affluent" society in all-round ways which was brought forward by
the 16th Party Congress; how to improve government's working
efficiency through institutional restructuring. In addition, the
issues of agriculture: farmer and rural areas being their top
concern.
Q: What proposals have you made, or what did you hope to
accomplish at this session?
A: Nothing yet. I'm also a deputy to the 9th National
People's Congress, so I've submitted a total of 16 proposals to NPC
sessions in the past five years. I think that it's enough to pass
and implement these bills.
I
hope that this NPC session can further promote the concept of
"running the country according to law", and strengthen the
enforcement of legal cases.
Q: What have you seen achieved over the last five years?
A: I'm quite satisfied with the government's work in the
past five years, as mentioned in Premier Zhu's work report. Central
government has successfully avoided the impact of the Asian
financial crisis, while the institutional restructuring by the Zhu
Rongji Administration has greatly improved the working efficiency
of government departments and fostered the democratic working style
in some sense.
In
the past five years, China has maintained social stability and
rapid economic growth. It's quite hard for such a huge country like
China, but central government has done it very well. On the other
hand, the concept of "running the country according to law" has
gradually been in the heart of all Chinese.
What's more, the living standard of the Chinese has greatly
improved. Nowadays, China's transportation and telecommunication
are as advanced as any other developed countries. To take Hangzhou
of Zhejiang Province for example, the city has experienced rapid
development, and strived to be an international metropolis. All
these changes have only come in the last five years.
Q: When the NPC is not in session, how do you exercise your
responsibilities as a NPC deputy?
A: I think that the most important thing for a NPC deputy is
to be responsible for people of your area. Therefore, I will try to
contact the grassroots, and convey their voice. As an entrepreneur,
I will make contributions to China through further developing my
own enterprise to solve more employment and hand in more tax.
Q: What is your hope for the future?
A: I hope that the central government can give more support
for private-run enterprises through preferential policies,
regulations or laws. Private-run enterprises are also enterprises
in China, so they should be treated the same as state-own
enterprises.
Secondly, I hope that government will give direct subsidies to
farmers; enhance more capital input in agricultural technology in
order to raise farmer's income and develop agriculture.
(China.org.cn by Staff Reporter Tang Fuchun, March 13, 2003)
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