04:28
As a foreign visitor scanned the photos adorning the walls of the community legislative service center in Shanghai's Hongqiao subdistrict, one image struck him with surprise: "So China's national legislators actually work right here in the community!"
This moment, recalled Sheng Hong, a deputy to China's national legislative body and a community leader in Hongqiao, encapsulates the essence of whole-process people's democracy – a concept she has championed for over a decade.
In Saturday's interview during this year's session of the National People's Congress, Sheng, who has served in the community for 14 years, emphasized that her role transcends policy debates in Beijing. "Whole-process people's democracy is practiced through the meticulous execution of daily responsibilities," she said, citing examples like mediating disputes in one of Shanghai's most cosmopolitan neighborhoods.
Hongqiao subdistrict, home to over 87,000 residents from 50 countries, has become a showcase for China's grassroots governance. In 2024 alone, its resident center hosted 510 visiting delegations, including 55 foreign groups. Sheng noted how foreign observers often express astonishment at the accessibility of China's political representatives.
"In my role as an NPC deputy, presenting China's varied democratic practices to the world brings me both deep fulfillment and pride," she told reporters.