Villagers thrilled with role in democracy

NANXIONG, Guangdong - Li Zehua, a 45-year-old villager who was recently invited to participate in a Party committee meeting, is still savoring his first taste of grassroots democracy.

After two hours listening to a discussion by Party members about the nominations of officials in the local urban administration bureau, Li, who hails from Nanxiong, a county-level jurisdiction in Guangdong province, was asked to share his opinion.

"I had never dreamed of participating in such a meeting," he said. "They are usually closed-door events."