China News Agency, Beijing, March 10th: Le Taowen: Why did I become a lifetime honor for overseas Chinese when I attended once?

　　China News Agency reporter Xu Wenxin

　　In 1959, the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference were held simultaneously for the first time, and the abbreviation of the two sessions was born.

Since then, the annual two sessions have not only become a major event in the political life of the Chinese people, but also an important window for the world to observe and understand China.

　　On the occasion of the closing of China's Two Sessions in 2022, Le Taowen, chairman of the Salt Lake City Chinese Aid Center and a tenured professor at Weber State University in Utah, said in an exclusive interview with China News Agency's "East-West Question" that for overseas Chinese, the two sessions are a way to understand Chinese democracy. It is an important channel for political system, economic and social development, and an effective platform for participating in China's modernization drive.

Data map: The red flag flutters in front of the Great Hall of the People.

The following is a summary of the interview transcript:

　　China News Service reporter: In your eyes, how have the two sessions changed over the years?

　　Le Taowen: In the past few decades, I have been paying attention to China's two sessions, and I have clearly felt three changes.

　　First, the international influence of the two sessions is getting stronger and stronger.

With the continuous improvement of China's comprehensive national strength and governance capabilities, the international community has paid more and more attention to China's "two sessions", and the scope of attention has also expanded from the economic field to politics, diplomacy, science and technology, military and other fields.

　　Second, the two sessions are becoming more and more pragmatic.

In recent years, both the agenda and format of the meeting, as well as the motions and proposals of the representatives, have become closer to people's livelihood.

The deputies brought the expectations of the people to the NPC and CPPCC, connecting "the height of temples" and "the distance between rivers and lakes", so that "what the people look forward to" and "what the party and the government do" are highly compatible.

　　Third, the sense of ownership of the participants is getting stronger and stronger.

The pre-meeting homework of the representative committee has become more and more solid, it has become a fashion to speak out, and there are many insights.

　　China News Service reporter: How can overseas Chinese participate in the two sessions?

How did you feel about participating?

　　Le Taowen: From 2001 to 2019, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference invited overseas Chinese to attend the plenary session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference every year.

In principle, each overseas Chinese can usually only attend once in a lifetime, so the saying that "one attendance is a lifetime honor" is widely circulated among overseas Chinese.

Since 2020, due to the needs of epidemic prevention and control, overseas Chinese have not been able to attend.

　　In 2008, I had the honor to attend as a non-voting representative of overseas Chinese, to experience China's open and transparent democratic process, and to participate in group discussions of CPPCC members from relevant sectors.

Not only have I witnessed the members of the CPPCC from various political parties, people's organizations, and all walks of life speak freely about the national economy, people's livelihood, and national rejuvenation from different perspectives, but I have also submitted four proposals on overseas Chinese to the CPPCC National Committee.

　　Since then, I have returned to China several times a year to learn about people's conditions, and I have made suggestions for the development of related fields almost every year.

In addition to several reports on overseas Chinese-related suggestions submitted in 2008, over the past 14 years, I have submitted more than 20 special suggestions reports to the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Strategic Emerging Industries", "Poverty Alleviation by Science and Technology", "Talent Introduction", "Management of Permanent Residence of Foreigners", "Playing the Role of Overseas Chinese in Building a New Development Pattern", etc.

　　As a member of the Chinese nation, I have never regarded myself as a "spectator" of China's construction and development.

Encouragingly, even during the adjournment of the NPC and CPPCC, the channels for suggestions are open, and I can deeply feel that the country attaches great importance to the suggestions of overseas Chinese.

　　It is the unique contribution of the non-voting mechanism of the two sessions that Chinese sons and daughters at home and abroad can brainstorm and maximize the collective wisdom in the cause of national construction and national revitalization.

　　China News Service: In recent years, more and more overseas attention has been focused on China's "two sessions". How do overseas communities view China's "two sessions"?

　　Le Taowen: The Two Sessions are platforms for the centralized release of China's policy signals.

For overseas societies, learning from China's development path is one of the important purposes for them to pay attention to the two sessions.

Many overseas people are envious of China's "two sessions". Think tanks and elites from all over China gather together to focus on the national economy and people's livelihood, rather than pointing fingers at other countries' internal affairs.

　　Many overseas friends often say that Chinese people are smart and good at concentrating on big things.

They said that China has concentrated its efforts on hosting the two Olympic Games that the world is full of praise.

The mascots of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics are "Bing Dun Dun" and "Xue Rong Rong".

Photo by China News Agency reporter Yi Haifei

　　Take the two sessions of the past two years as an example. China held the two sessions against the special background of normalizing epidemic prevention and control, which showed the cohesion and combat effectiveness of the Chinese government to the world, and demonstrated the perseverance and resilience of the Chinese people in the face of difficulties. Pay more attention to China's national governance system and governance capacity.

　　It can be said that China's Two Sessions have achieved democracy institutionally, preventing a few vested interests from harming the interests of the majority.

　　China News Service reporter: In this year's China's Two Sessions, what issues are the overseas Chinese most concerned about, and what issues are they most looking forward to solving?

　　Le Taowen: Most of the relatives of the overseas Chinese are in China. Therefore, some hot issues that China is concerned about are also concerned by the overseas Chinese.

　　Many overseas Chinese hope that China can further increase investment in the field of medical and health care and improve the national medical security system.

Health care concerns the vital interests of the people and is an important part of the people's sense of happiness and security.

The World Health Organization considers that when medical expenditure reaches 40% of total expenditure, it is catastrophic health expenditure for a family.

Serious diseases can easily lead to poverty. Further improving the research and development capabilities of Sinopharm, increasing the number of medical insurance drugs and medical insurance coverage are also the concerns of overseas Chinese.

　　As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has selflessly provided various forms of assistance to all countries in the world, providing great stability and certainty to the world, and fully demonstrating its image as a responsible major country. Overseas Chinese are deeply proud.

However, some Western media smear China and suppress China's positive reports from time to time.

The overseas Chinese hope that when the two sessions discuss foreign aid issues, they can pay more attention to the importance of telling the story of China both externally and internally. understanding and support.

Data map: Guangxi Beibu Gulf Port.

　　In addition, overseas Chinese are particularly concerned about issues related to the new development pattern of domestic and international dual circulation.

Returning to the home country for investment, entrepreneurship and business development has always been an important option for overseas Chinese.

In recent years, China's economy has developed rapidly and steadily, and it has become an important engine of the world economy. With the official entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), overseas Chinese have ushered in an unprecedented historic opportunity.

Overseas Chinese look forward to the two sessions to provide them with more opportunities for development.

(over)

Interviewee Profile:

　　Le Taowen, tenured professor and former dean of information systems at Weber State University, Utah, USA, chairman of the Department of Commerce of the Utah Academy of Sciences (academic alliance of colleges and universities across the state); executive director of the China Overseas Friendship Association, overseas non-voting representative of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference; Salt Lake City Huazhu, USA Director of the Center.

He has been invited to give lectures in more than 20 institutions such as Wuhan University, Zhejiang University, Fudan University, National Defense Science and Technology Information Center, Peking University, University of Utah, Brigham Young University, etc., and has been employed by Dalian University of Technology, Wuhan University, Liaoning University of Engineering and Technology Adjunct Professor.