SNAI International Students "Visit the People's Congress": Seeking the Code of China's Governance

"As an accounting student, what I really want to know is—how does Shanghai ensure that every cent of its fiscal funds is spent where it's most needed?"

 

On the morning of March 20th, in the meeting hall of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress, Constant Abo, an international student from the University of the Gambia, raised his hand and asked. From the other side of the hall, Mustafa Elmoataz Billah Mahmoud, from the Egyptian Ministry of Finance, immediately followed up with a question: "We are studying China's financial and economic practices at the Shanghai National Accounting Institute. Today, we'd like to hear about the role the People's Congress plays in optimizing the business environment and supporting international talent."

 

This was the scene of the "Visit the People's Congress" event for international students enrolled in the Master of Accounting (Development Finance) program for developing countries at the Shanghai National Accounting Institute (SNAI). Sixty young fiscal and economic officials from 19 countries, bringing with them reflections on their own nations and curiosity about the "Chinese model," sat in the designated seats for committee members in the meeting hall to engage in the discussion.

 

**From the "Money Bag" to the "Legal Framework": The Focus of Two International Students**

 

Constant Abo's question centered on public fiscal management. As an educator working at the University of the Gambia, he has a professional sensitivity to fiscal "transparency."

 

Wang Zhiping, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress, responded by explaining the comprehensive, full-process supervision conducted by the local People's Congress over budget preparation, execution, adjustments, and auditing. He stated: "The annual budget prepared by the municipal government must be submitted to the Municipal People's Congress for review and approval. If adjustments are needed during the year, they must be submitted again to the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress for deliberation." He specifically noted that Shanghai has established an online budget supervision system, allowing real-time monitoring of fiscal fund usage at both municipal and district levels. "How every sum of money is spent is under supervision."

 

Wang Zhiping added, "This is a manifestation of the whole-process people's democracy in the fiscal field."

 

**A "Democracy Lesson" in the Meeting Hall**

 

During a break in the Q&A session, Wang Zhiping introduced the functional layout of the meeting hall to the students. On the podium are the seats for the Chairman, Vice Chairmen, and Secretary-General of the Standing Committee. On both sides are designated seats for leaders from the Municipal Government, Municipal Supervisory Commission, Municipal Court, and Municipal Procuratorate. The committee members' seats are arranged according to the number of strokes in their surnames, with observer and public seating at the back.

 

"Standing Committee meetings are generally held every one to two months. The agenda mainly includes reviewing and approving local regulations and hearing special work reports," he explained, pointing to the electronic voting devices on the desks. "Every member of the Standing Committee can express their approval, abstention, or opposition."

 

Some international students diligently noted keywords like "legislative outreach points" and "deputy liaison stations" in their notebooks. They had prepared numerous questions ranging from the legislative process to deputy elections. Through the exchange, they learned that "China's legislation is not 'closed-door policymaking.' The 36 grassroots legislative outreach points act like 'direct express lines,' where even suggestions from ordinary citizens can be fully expressed."

 

**The "Extended Classroom" After the Meeting**

 

After the visit, the international students began posting their reflections in the group chat. Tinashe Junior Gore, an international student from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, wrote: "The detailed introduction to the Shanghai People's Congress and municipal management left a deep impression on me, providing a valuable comparative research perspective. As someone working in election management in Zimbabwe, I can't help but admire the level of organization reflected in this system and the clarity and rigor of its underlying legal framework."

 

He particularly noted, "I am especially amazed by the Shanghai local government's ability to efficiently manage the city and maintain its international metropolis image. The city's infrastructure, environmental cleanliness, and public order all demonstrate the results of meticulous planning and effective governance. The process by which policy decisions are translated into tangible results, making Shanghai one of the world's most livable and dynamic cities, is extremely enlightening."

 

In his reflection, this professional who served on the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission wrote, "This experience has greatly deepened my understanding of the governance model and election management system of Shanghai and, by extension, China."

 

**From Shanghai to the World: A 'Two-Way Journey'**

 

As the event drew to a close, Mustafa Elmoataz Billah Mahmoud asked about how to understand China's development experience. Wang Zhiping shared his own insight: that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the country adheres to a single blueprint drawn to the end, builds upon the work of successive generations, promotes reform, development, and stability, manages its own affairs well, and strives to become a better version of itself.

 

One international student from Liberia remarked, "Only today do I truly understand why Shanghai can be one of the safest cities in the world. The meticulous rule of law, rigorous supervision, and unimpeded public opinion are all part of the answer."

 

The two-hour "Visit to the People's Congress" left a deep impression on the international students. For Tinashe Junior Gore, it was not just a visit, but a profound immersion into the logic of China's governance. He will carry this understanding back to Zimbabwe, seeking answers for his own country in the practice of election management and public finance.

 

In the future, these young fiscal and economic officials will take their newfound, intuitive understanding of "whole-process people's democracy" to the governance frontlines of their respective countries. The echoes of the questions and answers within the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress meeting hall, and the extended reflections and inquiries in the group chat, will serve as vivid footnotes in the process of understanding China and promoting mutual learning and exchange in the financial and economic fields.