Taking women empowerment to heart

In 2025, the schedule of Chen Zhonghong, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, recorded more than 60 duty-related activities. Behind each number were real lives: children in difficulty, the elderly living alone, and rural women eager to get trained to start businesses.

"Only by going to the grassroots and staying close to the people can we understand their real needs, and every positive response from them makes all the effort worthwhile," said Chen, who runs an agricultural company in Tianjin.

For her, fulfilling duties is not something that can be figured out sitting in a meeting room; what is needed is "walking into the hearts of the people".

The 58-year-old has been serving as a national political adviser for two terms. A longtime advocate for people's livelihoods, Chen has made the elderly and the children a major focus of her work over the past year.

During a visit to a nursing home last year, she found that the residents' daily routines and meals were well taken care of.

Through conversations, she came to realize that what the elderly lacked most was not material support, but companionship. "What they want most is simply someone to sit with them and talk to them."

The loneliness she witnessed prompted Chen to think about how to improve eldercare services. She began exploring a more integrated model that connects traditional services with social resources to offer companionship and explore AI applications in eldercare.

That same year, around Children's Day, Chen took part in activities for children with special needs, including those with autism and physical disabilities. She was struck not only by the challenges those children face, but also by the pressures faced by their parents.

In a period of high-quality national development, special-needs children must not be left behind, and they need more attention and support from society, Chen said.

These experiences have reinforced her belief that fulfilling duties requires not just "physical presence", but "genuine commitment", truly keeping people's urgent concerns and needs at heart, she said.