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TANG GUANJUN an NPC deputy and director of the Changjiang River Administration of Navigational Affairs in Hubei province |
If I don't do my job properly, it means 670,000 people have no voice, so I believe that every deputy should understand their role and how important it is.
I believe deputies are the people's spokespeople.
To carry out my role, I set a goal of speaking from ground level, telling the truth, speaking for the people and making quality suggestions.
Another deputy once told me that deputies who wish to submitgood motions are required to go into the field and conduct thorough research.
I totally agree with that. A deputy has to understand the real world and people's needs. We need to understand ordinary people's lives and challenges, but also make suggestions with a politician's vision and formulate good motions based on the State's strategic plan and people's needs.
I was honored to be elected as a deputy five years ago. Back then, I did not have much experience, so I felt like I was walking on thin ice. With honor comes responsibility.
I started to investigate my specialist field - navigation issues on the Yangtze River - and submitted two motions every year, making 10 in total.
Excluding the motions I have put forward this year, all of my suggestions have been considered by the government. Some have already been acted upon, while others have been listed in the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20).
For example, in 2013, I suggested the construction of another lock at the Three Gorges Dam to allow more ships to pass through and further raise the shipping capacity of the Yangtze River.
Back then, vessels faced long delays crossing from one side of the dam to the other because only a limited number of ships could pass through the lock every day. The average wait was 46 hours.
Once, I saw as many as 1,000 ships waiting at the congested lock. The people working on them told me the delays cost them a lot of money.
I submitted the motion in March, 2013. In August of the same year, the State Council approved it, and ordered the Three Gorges Office to conduct preliminary research into building new locks.
Last year, the central government issued plans to develop the Yangtze River Economic Belt, and a suggestion I made was accepted.
I don't know if I will be re-elected as a deputy for the next term. I can't say that I have done a perfect job, but I have done my best and I have a clear conscience.
Tang Guanjun spoke with Luo Wangshu and Liu Kun.
