Zhang Shiying, a deputy to the National People's Congress and Party Secretary of Mengla County, often travels deep into villages for research. “Only when my shoes are covered with mud do I feel truly grounded,” he says.

Located in the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture of southwest China's Yunnan Province, Mengla County boasts significant advantages in ecology and border trade. Yet its villages developed in isolation, and valuable resources failed to translate into industries that could boost local incomes. After visiting rubber farmers, tea growers and local merchants, Zhang decided to integrate scattered villages into a unified development nexus. Additionally, to increase the added value of the local rubber industry, he proposed building a modern agricultural industrial park that meets national standards to attract more investment and promote growth.

At this year's Two Sessions, Zhang plans to submit proposals on developing the under-forest economy, industrial parks and border trade, ensuring that frontier resources truly benefit local communities. (Photos via local media and Xinhua News Agency)