A total of 44 Jiaxing deputies attended the first session of the 13th Zhejiang People's Congress, which commenced on Jan 25 in Hangzhou, and performed their duty by putting forward proposals regarding the people's welfare and the city's development.

The Jiaxing delegation, consisting of 44 members, listened to Zhejiang governor Yuan Jiajun's government work report and sought guidelines on promoting economic and social development in Jiaxing.

The deputies submitted proposals for building a platform for innovation, beautifying rural areas, and other issues involving the improvement of the people's livelihood, such as education, healthcare and environmental protection.

Jiang Wei, Party chief of Wuzhen, said the town would focus on exploring the opportunities brought about by the development of the internet economy and upgrade its tourism-oriented industrial structure, with the aim of integrating the development of tourism and the internet in 2018.

The remarks were in response to the government work report, which mentioned the World Internet Conference several times. Wuzhen, a water town in Jiaxing, has been the permanent host of the World Internet Conference since 2014.

"The construction of beautiful villages is my top concern," said Wang Aihua, director of a local law firm, adding that a long-term system will be put in place to ensure the environmental protection and sustainable development of rural areas.

"I look forward to better education for skilled people and promoting the training of craftsmen, as well as improving their rights and interests, so as to boost the garment industry in our province," said Zhang Lihua, manager of the research and technology department of EP Group, a Jiaxing-based fashion company.

Zhang also called for convenient professional certification for experts in the garment industry.

As the government work report says education shall be a top priority of the government, Zhang Wei, a teacher at Tongxiang High School, suggested that after-school classes for lower-grade students be offered, with the support of both inside and outside educational resources. She believes this will help meet society’s demands for better educated people.

Some Jiaxing deputies to the session discuss people's livelihood together. [Photo by Zeng Fuquan]