First Great Hall visit a truly grand experience

I'd seen pictures of the Great Hall of the People, of course. But no picture can measure up to entering the massive building for the first time, walking into that cavernous space and taking in the atmosphere. It's a powerful thing, to stand where so many vital decisions have been made and where so many votes have been cast.

And this was no ordinary tour. My inaugural trip to the hall came on the opening day of this year's National People's Congress, China's top legislature and the highest organ of state power. I was there to hear Premier Li Keqiang deliver the Government Work Report on behalf of the State Council. As I watched NPC deputies take their seats, I was struck by the import of the occasion－this was the first national legislative meeting since the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

The work report reflected this period's pivotal nature. Premier Li made firm pronouncements on what the government has done and will do in 2018. Along with the announced GDP growth target of 6.5 percent, the report included continued commitments to high-quality growth, economic modernization and "three critical battles": curbing risk, ending extreme poverty and reducing pollution.

Li backed these statements of intent with more than just words; he pointed to real-world results. With 68 million people lifted out of poverty since 2013, income growth constantly outpacing economic growth, an enviably low unemployment rate and world-beating levels of infrastructure spending, there has already been a great deal of success. The information in the report was, in essence, the supremely confident answer to a paramount question facing all governments: "Do you walk the walk, or merely talk the talk?"

While listening to the work report, I occasionally ventured from my seat in the gallery and looked over the first floor, where NPC deputies sat. I saw representatives from all walks of life－according to demographic data, they come from diverse backgrounds. Farmers and workers have the same status as government officials at the two sessions; all are deputies, each with one vote. I saw members of ethnic groups and people who'd traveled hundreds of miles to attend. In that one enormous room, I saw all of China.

Such a culture of common purpose is altogether alien compared with my time on the sidelines of United States politicking. Where was the partisan rancor? Legislation in my home country is characterized by bickering and obstruction, most recently observed with multiple instances of government funding gaps or outright shutdowns. With such incidents growing all too common, is there a better word for the state of affairs there than "dysfunction"? I have my doubts.

Expectations will continue to run high among the Chinese people for an improved standard of living, and the difficulties the CPC and government face in meeting those expectations are the greatest any country has ever known. Yet the mood everywhere I've gone has been optimistic. It would be foolish to deny there are problems in China－no nation is perfect, after all. But people here acknowledge those problems while understanding they take time to fix. And, perhaps most importantly, they believe their government will do so. With the accomplishments over the past five years, and the nearly 70 since the People's Republic of China was founded, that belief is well-placed.

It's hard not to contrast that with life in the US－where everyone knows what the problems are and has no faith their government can or will do anything to help.

With the Party and government's unwavering determination to uplift the people and provide Chinese citizens with a better life, I'd be surprised to learn anyone here has "nothing we can do" in their vocabulary.