Stations bring citizens, govt closer

Shanghai has established more than 5,700 contact stations across the city to enhance grassroots democracy and foster closer ties between the government and the citizens, the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress said.

The initiative, launched in the city where President Xi Jinping first introduced the concept of whole-process people's democracy in 2019, enables residents to engage directly with 15,000 legislators at the national, municipal, district and town levels. These interactions allow people to voice concerns on economic and livelihood issues and offer suggestions for social development.

Shanghai has also set up 36 local legislative outreach offices to solicit public feedback on legislative and regulatory matters, reinforcing its commitment to inclusive governance. The offices, located in all 16 districts, hold regular discussions to collect public opinions on legislation and law revisions.