Every year, China’s Two Sessions attract global attention as a key window for the world to observe China’s policy direction and governance philosophy. This year, China Pictorial launched “Letters from Abroad: Replies from the Two Sessions”, bringing overseas netizens’ questions to National People’s Congress (NPC) deputies. Through social media, ordinary citizens’ concerns were presented at the Two Sessions, offering a rare lens into China’s policymaking.
The series, released from March 5 to 12, consists of eight videos addressing issues of global interest: Chinese governance, high-quality development, high-level openness, technological innovation and industrial upgrading, and green development.
Rural Development: Learning from China’s Experience
https://youtube.com/shorts/0C3AqrUAVro?si=2WlhdKLuMTA0Pjjq
The first video opens with a question from a netizen from Meghalaya, India: “We have rich cultural traditions, but many of our villages are still struggling to grow in a sustainable way. I’ve seen how China has developed rural tourism by bringing together traditional crafts, local culture. I’m wondering if this is something India could also learn from?” Xia Hua, NPC deputy and chairperson of Eve Group, said that China’s experience in integrating local culture, handicrafts, and natural scenery into village development offers valuable lessons. Drawing from 21 years of field exploration, Xia emphasized the role of digitalization and AI in creating small, experiential cultural-tourism projects with low investment but high potential for growth. She also highlighted the potential for global cooperation between handicraft regions, envisioning a shared future of cultural innovation and mutual enrichment.
Expanding Cross-Border Trade Opportunities
https://youtube.com/shorts/6n3T5ygFKXQ?si=OT3gz3vnFPSayW-w
The second video addresses an entrepreneur in Peru who asks whether their handicrafts can be sold to China and what policies could support sustainable trade. Yu Miaojie, NPC deputy and president of Liaoning University, explained China’s commitment to expanding imports, exemplified by the China International Import Expo (CIIE) and comprehensive measures to enhance market openness. He outlined six aspects of China’s opening-up policies, including diversified export destinations and internationalizing regional trade agreements, etc., encouraging foreign small businesses to use these platforms to connect with the vast Chinese market.
Bridging Urban and Rural Services
https://youtube.com/shorts/EehyUohtB_0?feature=share
In the third video, a question from a netizen in Hungary highlights the challenge of providing equal public services to China’s rural population. Liao Sha, NPC deputy, illustrated the solution with Guiyang’s Special Bus Line for Farmers’ Benefit for farmers traveling to the city to sell their produce. By tailoring public services to local need, including adjusting bus routes and operation schedule, the project demonstrated how people-centered, participatory approaches can effectively bridge the urban-rural gap in public services. So far, Guiyang has 39 routes of this kind in operation, exemplifying how people-centered governance translates policy into concrete improvement in living standards.