Meet the youngest deputy of China’s national legislature

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Born in July, 1995, Xu Ping is the youngest deputy among the 148 deputies of China's National People’s Congress (NPC) from southwestern Sichuan Province who came to Beijing for the ongoing Two Sessions.

The 22-year-old came from a village in Qingchuan County in Sichuan Province.

On May 12, 2008, a devastating magnitude-8 earthquake shook Sichuan, and left many areas destroyed, with Xu’s hometown among the worst-hit areas.

Qingchuan County after the earthquake in 2008./Photo via Xinhua

Xu was lucky to survive.

She received help and support from local community and the government, which helped her to stay strong as she witnessed the reconstruction of her hometown.

“I have received help during the past 10 years, I hope that I can now help others,” Xu told CGTN Digital during an interview.

“I used to witness changes, now I want to push changes. As a deputy of the NPC, I believe I can make this notion a reality and help contribute to the cultural development of the city I’m living in,” she said.

Xu now works for a company that aims to promote cultural exchanges and build platforms between artists and the public. During the two years that she has worked there, Xu has helped organize many cultural events, showcasing top artists from the musical and performing fields.

“We hope people enjoy this art no matter where they come from and what they do,” Xu said.

More young people involved

Xu is not the only young deputy born in the 90s, for this year's NPC session.

A screenshot features Yang Changqin speaking to the press at the "deputies corridor."/CGTN Photo

Yang Changqin from southwestern Guizhou Province was born in 1991. She also appeared at the “deputies corridor” to answer questions from the media, and tell stories of how her village overcame poverty.

Zou Bin from central Hunan Province was born in 1995. He was the youngest of the deputies from Hunan. Born in a village, he had worked as a builder for years and won an award at an international competition for masonry.

According to a report from Southern Weekly, among the 2,980 deputies from across the country, 13 were born in the 90s.