Vocie from non-political citizens before CPPCC and NPC sessions kick off

Political advisors and lawmakers from across China gather in Beijing to discuss and make proposals for the country's future development. [Photo: baidu.com]

As political advisors and lawmakers from across China gather in Beijing to discuss and make proposals for the country's future development, CRI's Ding Heng caught up with some non-political citizens on the streets of Beijing.

What are their main concerns? And what message did they want to give to policymakers on the eve of the two biggest events in China's annual political calendar?

On the streets of the Chinese capital, inevitably perhaps, one word cropped up time and time again - Environment.

Interviewees said they looked forward to efforts to strengthen environmental protection so that the people of Beijing could enjoy cleaner air.

Official figures show that Beijing and its nearby area, an air pollution hot spot, saw year-on-year progress in air quality in 2016.

But still, the average air pollutant density in the region was much higher than the national safety standard.

Interviewees said they hoped the progress at a statistical level could be translated into a real perceivable change as soon as possible, as wearing masks on smoggy days is still a common occurrence, especially in winter.

Apart from environmental concerns, some people also expressed their concern about social security matters.

Chen, a barber shop worker, is one of them.

"I work in the service industry, and I think this industry doesn't guarantee us stability. There is a great mobility in labor force. So our employers usually don't give us access to social welfare programs, such as pensions and healthcare. I hope things will get better on this front."

At present, China has more than 280 million migrant workers like Chen.

They have had limited access to social welfare in their new living places because their households are registered in their hometowns.

China is currently looking to reform its unique 'Hukou' household registration system, and its links with social security, in a move to make the lives of migrant workers more comfortable.

Mr. Wang, a financial worker in Beijing, says he is concerned about China's equity markets.

"Chinese stocks have hurt many people. They are abnormal. So I think they should become normal, become something consistent with market economy rules. Otherwise people will only lose faith in them."

Mr. Wang referred to a stock market collapse in the summer of 2015, which left tens of thousands of middle class investors in fear.

Like stocks, China's property market is another big worry after home prices in first-tier and some second-tier cities underwent rounds of hikes over the past year.

One interviewee said one problem is that those in most need can't afford to buy homes.

"Housing prices should be further brought under control, to an affordable level for those who need to buy homes. Prices should be controlled by the state, rather than speculators. The state should also maintain its control over the inventory, namely the volume of unsold homes."

Other issues raised by interviewees include healthcare reform, educational equality, poverty alleviation and the fight against corruption.

For CRI, this is Ding Heng.