2016年CRI One Political Adviser on His Duty Performance

The annual session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference is an important occasion for political advisers 2 giving suggestions on various political and social issues, but the real challenge lies during the other 340 days of the year.

54-year-old Pan Lusheng is the President of Shandong University of Art & Design. As a political adviser 1 at this year's annual session, Pan says he spend most of his time doing field studies before drafting his proposals.

"I spend most time of my year on field trips organized by the CPPCC Ethnic 3 and Religious Committee, Chinese Folk Artists Association, and some major projects of national funds."

As an art master, what Pan Lusheng cares about most are issues related to the inheritance and protection of artisan craftsmanship 4 in rural China. In the past 30 years, his footprints have covered more than 300 villages all around China, and he has saved 120 kinds traditional handicrafts.

In this year's annual Government Work Report, Premier 5 Li Keqiang has noted 6 the concept of the "Craftsmanship Spirit," aiming to encourage a spirit of striving for the best and more higher qualified 7 products.

Pan Lusheng says such "craftsmanship spirit" widely exists in ethnic groups and rural China.

"Two years ago, I went to southwestern Wumengshan Mountainous area for field studies. We have witnessed rich folk art resources in the poor and remote area. Such as batilk in Guizhou, lacquers made by the Yi ethnics 8 of Liangshan in Sichuan, all were exquisitely 9 made. The craftsmen 10 are skilled, their pureness and concentrations on the arts touched me. But they were limited by the inconvenient 11 traffic conditions."

How to better preserve rural culture and improve people's livelihood 12 at the same time is a global topic.

Besides the annual session, Pan also participates in bi-weekly consultation 13 sessions of the advisory 15 body, during which he has more chances to discuss the cultural protection issue.

These sessions were first put forward by top political advisor 14 Yu Zhengsheng in 2013, and have gathered more than 1,000 political advisers and experts in the discussion.

To ensure that those opinions put forward can carry weight in the decision-making process, leading officials from government are also invited.

Pan Lusheng says the sessions play an important role in the top advisory body's work.

"The atmosphere was relaxed, and we gave speeches without a prepared text. All we talk about were realistic and pragmatic. I think it provides us a better way to perform our duties, and help the CPPCC play a better role of political consultation."

Unlike motions from National People's Congress legislators, Pan Lusheng's proposals in the CPPCC are not legally binding 16 and only serve to advise the governing body.

With positive answers received after submitting his proposals, Pan says their "soft" check on government is a necessary.

"I'm deeply touched that almost each my proposals were answered by the authorities. They gave me answers in detail, such as what they have done and what should be done in the future. "

More than 10 billion yuan worth of government funding has been poured into a nationwide project to preserve the rural culture across China with significant cultural value.

Through proposal after proposal, many political advisers hope to set the wheels of change in motion in China.

As a political adviser insists on a down-to-earth working style, Pan Lusheng calls for improving the quality of the proposals.

"We are asked to submit fewer but better proposals, I think its' right. And only through enough in-depth studies and researches can we work out with good suggestions that can better solve the problems. You must be an expert of what you concern."

Pan says he hopes the advisory body plays a bigger role in government, particularly in supervision 17. He believes his work as a political advisor can help to make a better society slowly but surely.