China's Political Season: President Xi joins national legislators in panel discussions

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President Xi Jinping has been attending various panel discussions at the Two Sessions this week. One was with deputies from southern China's Guangdong province where he heard their thoughts on development and innovation in the country's most populous province.

China's Guangdong province is renowned for its spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship. And this is one of the reasons Yuan Yuyu decided to return from his ventures overseas. He was confident the climate was right for him to start his own business.

YUAN YUYU GUANGDONG NPC DEPUTY "When I came back ten years ago, there were few people who were willing to come back, but now it is a different story. As President Xi points out, more and more overseas Chinese want to come back home, as our country is growing stronger."

Ever since President Xi took office in 2013, he has been a champion of innovation. He believes China must embrace the concept, if it is to thrive in the new era.

XI JINPING CHINESE PRESIDENT "Development is the first priority. Talent serves as the first resource. And creativity is the first driving force. China will not become truly strong if we do not follow the way of creative development, and our old driving forces cannot successfully convert to new ones. China must rely on creativity to become strong, and creativity comes from talent."

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of China's reform and opening up program. President Xi said Guangdong should continue to be an example for the rest of the country, adding that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area had the potential to be a world-class region.

GAO SHENGYUAN NPC DEPUTY "With Hong Kong, we will work together to push forward the development of the Greater Bay Area in south China, to build the Area with high standard and strategic planning."

Some deputies said their lives were improving as the country grew stronger. Mi Xuemei is a migrant worker who has been living in Guangdong for more than 20 years. She says she has a sense of belonging in the southern province, because of the government's policies.

MI XUEMEI NPC DEPUTY "President Xi said we should strive for a better life. We do enjoy the benefits of the country's reform and opening up."

XI JINPING CHINESE PRESIDENT "The Communist Party of China is committed to making people happy. We work on whichever areas that our people feel unhappy and unsatisfied, and we spare no efforts in resolving the problems of our people."