CPPCC members who strongly questioned or opposed Sun's suggestion raised basically two counter points: Beijing is already an icon of Chinese culture, do we need a second one? As taxpayers we oppose any attempt to waste our money on construction projects in the name of culture.

This writer is not passing judgment on whether an iconic city of Chinese culture should be built. What interests me here is the remarkable importance the NPC deputies and CPPCC members attach to the way national funds are used. Even more significant is that such concern does not stem only from national awareness but also from the viewpoint of taxpayers. It is an illustration of the rights taxpayers should have.

Under today's democratic system, the rights of taxpayers and their responsibilities is an integral part of civil rights and responsibilities. Protecting taxpayers' rights to know and supervise State finance and budgets should be a matter of course like the protection of civil rights.

This writer believes the concerns of deputies and members for taxpayers' rights will no doubt help advance the openness and democratization of and scientific approach to the deliberations and approval of the State budget and final State accounts. It will also help improve and micro-organize deliberations on the government's budget by NPC deputies at various levels, while fundamentally enhancing the overall quality of government revenue and spending assessments.

In other words, those who do not care about protecting taxpayers' rights cannot be trusted with practicing democratic power on behalf of the public; and those who do not know enough about deliberations and approval of finance and taxes cannot be counted on to protect the general public's fundamental interests.

Another "highlight" of the NPC and CPPCC plenary sessions was reflected in some deputies "picking on" government departments charged with providing public services. For example, take the issue of including Peking Opera in the music curriculum of primary and secondary schools, the Ministry of Education had already taken the decision to try it out in 10 cities and provinces beginning this spring.

Much to the surprise of government officials, 42 cultural heavy weights, including no other than veteran Peking Opera star Mei Baojiu, son of the late Peking Opera legend Mei Lanfang, submitted a proposal at the CPPCC session demanding an immediate rethink of the move. The relevant officials at first brushed off the proposal, but were soon criticized by some CPPCC members.

From this episode we can see the NPC deputies and CPPCC members not only expect government agencies to provide public services but do it thoughtfully, carefully, scientifically and satisfactorily.

In other words, the debates at the two national conferences prove the Chinese society is full of dynamics, and even the small highlights indicate the progress of democracy in China.

The author is a researcher with China Foundation for International and Strategic Studies

(China Daily March 17, 2008)