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 Lin Shenxiong, a young entrepreneur noted for his generous support of poor students.
Lin Shengxiong, 37, is the chairperson of Shengxiong Group in Zhejiang Province, a private-own enterprise focusing on infrastructure construction.
He is well known in China for his donation for the "Hope Project", which helps poor students to continue their study in rural areas. Lin plans to set up 100 Hope Primary Schools in China by 2005. So far, 72 schools have been put into use and the volume of total donations has reached 36 million yuan.
Lin is the newly elected deputy to the 10th National People's Congress (NPC) from Zhejiang Province, and member of All-China Youth Federation. He was also awarded the Most Outstanding Youth in China in 2002.
Q: What is the issue of most concern to people in your area of China?
A: I come from a rural area and rural residents care most about how to achieve an "affluent" society in the country. Second, people hope to improve the implementation of the "running the country according to law".
Q: What proposals have you made, or what did you hope to accomplish at this session?
A: It's the first time for me to be elected as an NPC deputy, and I haven't fully prepared for it yet. I think lawmaking issues should be handed over to those who study law.
Q: What have you seen achieved over the last five years?
A: As mentioned in Premier Zhu's work report, China has made significant achievements in the past five years. As an entrepreneur, I felt these changes and achievements in recent years. I became rich following China's reform and its "opening-up" policy. In that time, my business has further developed. Especially, the proactive fiscal policy offering lots of opportunities for infrastructural construction companies. Nowadays, my company participates in part of the "West East Pipeline Project".
Q: When the NPC is not in session, how do you exercise your responsibilities as a NPC deputy?
A: I plan to set up a special team in my company to study the need of people of my area, especially the issue of how to help farmers to prosper. As a NPC deputy, I will report the needs of the mass of people to the NPC.
Q: What is your hope for the future?
A: I hope that the NPC will make relevant laws to guarantee private-run enterprises and private entrepreneurs. Privately-owned enterprises, like state-owned enterprises, offer lots of job opportunities and create huge taxes, contributing to the country's development.
The government also needs to give more preferential policy to foster those enterprises.
(China.org.cn by Staff Reporter Tang Fuchun, March 14, 2003)
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