On 24 September, 21 international students from 12 countries at our university visited the Shanghai CPPCC Whole-Process People’s Democracy Practice Site. Xu Tao, Standing Committee Member of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Executive Deputy Director of the CPPCC Science, Technology and Education Committee, and former Secretary of the CPC Committee of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE), delivered a welcome speech and accompanied the international students throughout the visit. From the perspectives of 'the whole process, all-round coverage, and full-chain integration', he introduced to the students the work of the Shanghai CPPCC in practising whole-process people’s democracy.
The international students watched a video documentary showing how members of the Yangpu District CPPCC contributed to the revitalisation of the riverside area. As they saw committee members making suggestions for urban development, and witnessed old factory buildings transformed into cultural spaces and dilapidated dockside areas become waterfront platforms for citizens to stroll along, the students gained a vivid understanding of whole-process people’s democracy. Huang Yuxiu from Indonesia said, 'Today’s activity gave me a better understanding of the CPPCC. They listen to the ideas and needs of citizens, and then gradually implement these through proposals. Through this activity, I learned more about Shanghai’s urban development.'
SUFE
Inside the practice site exhibition hall, guided by the explanations provided by the tour guide, the international students gained an insight into the vivid grassroots-level practices of the Shanghai CPPCC in implementing the major concept of whole-process people’s democracy through detailed graphic materials and real-life cases. Xiaoman from Germany said, 'Shanghai has integrated old factories and historical buildings into modern life, connecting the city’s history, development, and people’s daily lives. This left a deep impression on me.'
At the Yangpu Riverside CPPCC Members’ Workstation, the international students were surprised to find that it also serves as a public service station open to citizens. The station is equipped with convenient facilities such as books and periodicals, a refrigerator, a microwave oven, and restrooms, with many citizens taking a rest there. The lively scene before their eyes allowed the international students to truly witness the grassroots-level, people-oriented practice of whole-process people’s democracy.
Walking along the Yangpu Riverside promenade, the international students arrived at the Shanghai People’s City Practice Exhibition Hall. Through digital exhibition methods, the hall vividly demonstrated to the students the urban development philosophy of 'The People’s City Built by the People, The People’s City for the People'. Yuri from Russia said, 'In its ‘micro-renovations’, Shanghai has preserved historical relics and continued the city’s historical memory, while also ‘returning the river to the people’, creating a riverside urban garden where old and new elements coexist.'
After the visit, the international students took a group photo by the Huangpu River, where industrial heritage and modern river views complement each other, capturing precious moments.
This activity was organised by the Municipal Education and Health Work Committee, the Municipal Education Commission, the CPPCC Science, Education and Technology Committee, and the Yangpu District CPPCC. Through the event, the international students personally experienced the process and strength of the CPPCC in extensively gathering opinions from all sectors, actively providing advice for governance, and supporting urban development. In the future, the university will continue to build platforms to help international students experience China.
