People's Daily:

I'd like to know more about deputies to people's congresses and the measures that enable them to better play their roles. Thank you.

Xu Lin:

Mr Shen Chunyao will discuss this.

Shen Chunyao:

Deputies play a principal role in the people's congress system. Representing the people's interests and wills, deputies at various levels form their corresponding levels of the overall people's congress system exert state power in accordance with the law. I'd like to briefly introduce the general situation of these deputies at all levels. We have altogether 2.62 million deputies to people's congresses at five levels, that is, about 1.88 million at the town level, 590,000 at the county level, 120,000 at the city or prefectural level, 20,000 at provincial level, and 3,000 at the national level.

Deputies to people's congresses come from the people, represent the people, and perform their duties in accordance with the law. Strengthening ties between deputies and the people is a basic requirement of the people's congress system. To uphold and improve the system under the new circumstances, we must seek to enhance communication between deputies and the people and let the deputies at all levels fully play their role. The Decision clearly stipulates that to be responsible for the people and be supervised by them, deputies at all levels must get closer to the masses and seek advice from them through various channels.

Allowing deputies to fully play their roles is important for improving the work of the people's congresses. And there are many ways to do that. Putting forward proposals and suggestions is a vital way familiar to us during the annual "two sessions." During the second session of the 13th National People's Congress held in March, deputies submitted more than 490 proposals, most of which involved the development of the rule of law and focused on legislation and amendment. A total of 8,160 suggestions, criticisms and comments were submitted by deputies, covering various causes such as socioeconomic development, ecological and environmental protection, and improving people's livelihood. These proposals were studied in accordance with the law by state organs including the Standing Committee of the National People Congress, the State Council, the National Supervisory Commission, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate. A mature procedural mechanism has been established in this regard. 

Standing committees of people's congresses at all levels value highly the work of the deputies, honor their principal position, and fully support their efforts in performing duties according to the law and playing their roles through undertaking surveys, inspections, visits, and participating in the work of their respective standing committees. Diversified forms such as deputy home, deputy room, deputy junction and the online platform have been set up to facilitate their understanding of public sentiments and concerns, and enable them to introduce the country's laws and policies to the people. Such an approach also allows the people's congress, the people's government, the supervisory commission, the people's court and the people's procuratorate to actively tackle issues of public concern, and constantly improve their performance in this regard. It is also of great significance to the improvement of our national governance capacity. Thank you.