Guangdong's legislature has changed the province's rules for the election of deputies to people's congresses at and below municipal level, allowing candidates to conduct their own promotional activities for the first time.

The draft regulation, which has been submitted for examination to the standing committee of the provincial people's congress, requires election committees to organize meetings for candidates to present themselves before the electorate.

Previously, although the law did not forbid such promotion campaigns, candidates seemed unwilling to present themselves before voters. And in some places, local authorities do not welcome such behavior, seeing it as a potential cause of instability.

That is, to a large extent, due to our unique cultural and political traditions, which has witnessed few such campaigns.

The move in this southern province is an inspiring sign of openness conducive to political development in our country.

It may have a profound impact on the election of grass-roots people's congress deputies.

If approved, the regulation will provide legal support for such promotional activities, making the process of electing legislators election more transparent and accountable to the public.

How to make people's congress deputies at all levels live up to public expectations has been a perpetual focus of legislators' work.

Inadequate communication between candidates and voters often leads to a blurring of the role of the deputies, as they are not clear what their voters want and fail to present the real needs of the public at congress sessions.

Conscientious deputies take the initiative to take heed of public opinion, reflect this at the legislator meetings and report to their voters on how their opinions are received. But some irresponsible deputies would not be that active without the effective supervision of their voters.

By improving the electoral process, the new legislation in Guangdong will enhance interaction between deputies and voters. It will enhance mutual understanding and benefit our political life.

Other places need to follow suit to provide a clear legal basis for candidates' promotional activities.

(China Daily June 1, 2006)