On May 26, 2025, College of International Education of ECUST organized 18 international students from 12 countries to visit the Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress. The students gained firsthand experience of China’s People’s Congress system and the vibrant practice of whole-process people’s democracy.
During the visit, the students first toured a special exhibition showcasing Shanghai’s achievements in reform and opening-up. Through rich graphic materials and video records, they gained a vivid understanding of the city’s development journey.
Later, detailed introduction was delivered to the students in the meeting hall of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People’s Congress from Huang Hong, Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Congress, and Fei Jian, Vice Chairperson. At a symposium, Fei Jian demonstrated the main responsibilities of the Standing Committee and its working mechanisms to students through video materials. The students were also shown the legislative and supervisory accomplishments of the Congress as well as Shanghai’s remarkable socio-economic achievements from Chairperson Huang Hong’s introduction.
After the introduction, ECUST international students actively engaged by raising questions and having discussions with leaders on topics such as the mechanisms for soliciting public opinion, urban safety governance and youth employment.
Students gained fresh perspectives on China’s governance during this Shanghai People’s Congress visit. “Eye-opening to experience the deliberative process firsthand,” said an Indonesian student major in business administration. A Sierra Leonean Ph.D. candidate noted the system’s inclusivity: “Far more open than I imagined—real public engagement shapes policies.”
Li Xiaopeng, Dean of CIE, stated that this event provided international students with a valuable opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of China’s political system. The college will continue to build more platforms to promote mutual communications and understandings among different civilizations.
As President Xi Jinping authoritatively pointed out, “Democracy is not an ornament to be put on display, but a means to address the issues that matter to the people.” This visit vividly demonstrated the practical features of Chinese-style democracy, allowing international students to genuinely experience the rich connotation of whole-process people’s democracy. It opened an important window for them to understand both contemporary China and its story, marking another innovative practice by CIE in deepening international students’ engagement with China’s dynamic realities.
