IT helps legislators perform tasks better

Information skills have helped political advisers improve their work, Zhang said, adding that video consultations have also become an innovative way to expand participation by CPPCC members in various meetings and surveys.

"By using video links, more grassroots situations can be presented in detail to people in the meeting rooms, and these links also allow more political advisers from various areas and even the public to join the discussion," he added.

Data show the CPPCC has held 17 discussions via video link in the past five years, enabling political advisers to join the meetings via their computers or mobile phones. It also used video technology for about 350 activities during this period, with 211 of these events taking place last year.

Online meetings have also been introduced for NPC deputies.

Over the past five years, Fang Lan, vice-president of Shaanxi Normal University's Northwest Institute of Historical Environment and Socio-Economic Development and a deputy to 13th NPC, submitted five motions. They mainly covered Yellow River protection, food safety and carbon neutralization. Fang also put forward 24 proposals covering similar topics.

Before COVID-19 struck China in 2020, she visited rural areas to talk with villagers and conduct surveys, but Fang said the frequency of her field visits declined in the past three years.

"I tried my best to conduct research in Shaanxi and contact enterprises and residents by phone to understand their situation, even though it was sometimes difficult to travel to meetings due to the epidemic," she said.

To her surprise, the NPC Standing Committee quickly put many of its activities online.

On Aug 22, Fang attended an online seminar on carbon neutralization with other national legislators after they submitted related motions. During the meeting, officials from the NPC's Environmental Protection and Resource Conservation Committee explained to the deputies how their motions are tackled, and shared ideas about the carbon issue with them.

Fang said she has taken part in several online seminars organized by the NPC Standing Committee.