Fujian province has 40 members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) taking part in its annual plenary session, in Beijing, on March 3, with all of them saying they have high hopes for Fujian’s development this year and have suggestions on how to improve people’s lives, in an interview with Fujian Daily.

Fujian CPPCC members attending annual session, in Beijing, on March 3. [Photo/Fujian Daily]

One delegate, Zhang Changping, said they sent 12 CPPCC members to Shanghai, back in November, to study the work there on a free trade zone and will relay their idea during the Beijing session.

Fujian itself got approval for a similar zone from the 12th National People’s Congress, back on Dec 26, and expects to begin work after the two Beijing sessions later in March.

Fujian can cooperate with Taiwan’s free trade parks in its zone construction by sharing information and resources and promoting the Fujian zone in Taiwan to attract more enterprises, explained Zheng Jianmin, another CPPCC member.

Yet another comment came from delegate Chen Xiumao, who noted that Fujian still has room to improve in its pension system and that he will suggest that there be better services for the aged, more efficient use of financial support, and more professionals, through new legislation.

Delegate Luo Shamin pointed to the new Silk Road economic belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, or “One Belt One Road”, proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013, as a focus of Fujian, especially Maritime Silk Road, since it is the home of many overseas Chinese and wants them to bring financing and technology while the province promotes its Mazu cultural soft power.