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- ID: 8365968
- Dateline: Recent
- Location: China;
- Duration: 3’27
- Source: China Global Television Network (CGTN)
- Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland
- Published: 2024-03-02 23:55
- Last Modified: 2024-03-02 23:59
Shotlist
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Storyline
In a small village in central China’s Hubei Province, Tong Zhengzhang is overwhelmingly re-elected as chairman of a work group under the Villagers Committee, garnering strong support for his past five years of performance and vision of establishing an osmanthus park, exemplifying China’s democratic decision-making process and community development.
In Baini Village covered by the documentary, about 5,000 residents are organized into some 20 work groups, each led by an elected chairman serving a five-year term.
Tong, chairman of the Tongjiawan work group for the past five years, envisions developing an osmanthus park under his leadership.
“These osmanthus trees have been here for 720 years. In my youth, we’d pick the osmanthus flowers every year. We were poor and lacked resources. We relied on these trees for our livelihood. I want to enhance our collective economy. And I’m determined to keep this legacy alive,” he said.
His plan, though generally popular, would require some of the farmers to give up land for a new road, but Tong sees the planned redevelopment as essential for boosting their collective economy.
“Our group is poor. Without a road, how can we develop?” Tong said.
During their discussions on the issue, Tong tried to address concerns about the road construction’s impacts on those villagers, emphasizing the project’s long-term benefits.
“The group knows I’ve got a hot temper. But I only want the best for them. We may argue today, but tomorrow we’ll be fine,” he said.
As an election for the work group chairman approached, 40 households belonging to the Tongjiawan work group gathered to decide whether the quick-tempered Tong would secure re-election and if the osmanthus park’s plan would proceed.
“The villagers choose their chairman themselves, so they respect the outcome,” said Liu Dairen, Communist Party Secretary of Baini Village.
In his campaign speech, Tong presented his achievements from the past five years, highlighting the demolition of 25 dilapidated houses, the creation of 800 square meters of extra eco-friendly spaces and a parking lot.
The villagers overwhelmingly supported him for re-election.
“Him, definitely. He’s very enthusiastic. So we’re choosing him. He’s very dedicated,” said two of the villagers.
After the votes were counted, Tong secured 39 out of 40 votes, affirming the community’s trust in his leadership.
“I’m fully committed to pursuing everyone’s best interests. I’m confident that our collective economy and this industry will see further growth in the future,” Tong said in his victory speech after the election.
Whole-process people’s democracy is a creation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in leading the people to pursue, develop and realize democracy, embodying the Party’s innovation in advancing China’s democratic theories, systems and practices.
Prior to this year’s “two sessions,” a key event on China’s political calendar referring to the annual sessions of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the country’s national legislature, and the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country’s top political advisory body, China Global Television Network (CGTN) released a documentary devoted to China’s whole-process people’s democracy.
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