Soundbites

Editor's Note: The State Council Information Office held a group interview on Wednesday themed "Forging Ahead on the New Journey", bringing together recipients of the July 1 Medal and national outstanding Party members and workers to engage with the media.

Since leaving the military in 1988, I have spent 38 years working at the grassroots level, serving more than 20,000 residents and mediating over 2,500 disputes. I also developed the 'Lao Ma Method' and helped train more than 78,000 grassroots workers. Some issues are complex, such as land acquisition and urban redevelopment, but many are everyday concerns involving property management, family disputes or neighborhood nuisances. These seemingly small matters directly affect people's well-being. Grassroots officials must therefore address people's most immediate concerns with a practical approach and always stand firmly on the side of the people.

Ma Shanxiang, retired official from the Guanyinqiao Subdistrict Office, Liangjiang New Area, Chongqing; head of the Lao Ma Studio

I have worked in the community for 23 years. Our neighborhood is home to nearly 20,000 residents, with ethnic minority groups accounting for 38 percent. We respect the customs of every ethnic group and try to handle every small matter with care. Guided by the principle that 'what residents hope for is what we work for', we have opened a community canteen and clinic, renovated old residential compounds and built volunteer teams. Community work may not involve dramatic achievements, but through day-to-day dedication, we help solve residents' concerns and bring warmth and reassurance to every family.

Zhao Naixiang, Party Secretary of the Changcheng Huayuan community, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region

For 26 years, I have followed the principle that no child should be left behind and every child should have the chance to shine. We treat students with special needs as our own children, designing individualized development plans and combining core subjects with personal strengths through 14 clubs. Special education is about nurturing lives and awakening hearts. With stronger policies and a growing professional workforce, it is no longer the responsibility of special education teachers alone, but a shared undertaking in which all sectors of society support and illuminate one another.

Liang Yan, full-time deputy secretary of the Party branch of Anyang Special Education School, Henan province

When I became village Party secretary in 1998, the collective was in debt, there was no industry and many young people had left. We developed nylon recycling by using local coastal resources and discarded fishing nets, and introduced a model linking the Party branch, industrial chains and leading enterprises. Rural work may seem ordinary, but it affects every household. A village can achieve lasting development only when decisions are fair, residents prosper together and their everyday concerns are addressed through practical action.

Zhong Baijun, Party Secretary of Xijidang village, Zhewang town, Ganyu district, Lianyungang city, Jiangsu province; head of the Xijidang Village Committee

Our volunteer service team was established in 2020 and now has more than 700 members, including 13 Party members. We have reported over 1,000 community governance issues, undertaken more than 850 volunteer projects and assisted over 2,000 people in need. Through our service stations, Party members connect with delivery riders, listen to their concerns and help coordinate solutions. Riders are no longer isolated workers, but active participants in urban governance. They serve as 'mobile sentinels', reporting safety hazards and community needs while also providing companionship and delivery support to elderly, disabled and vulnerable residents.

Wang Kehao, secretary of the Party Branch of the "Little Bull Brother • Pioneer Rider" Volunteer Service Team, Niushikou subdistrict, Jinjiang district, Chengdu, Sichuan province