The student delegation poses for a group photo in front of the Zhejiang Great Hall of the People. [Photo/Hangzhou CPPCC]

Ten student representatives attended the fifth session of the 12th Hangzhou Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on Jan 20, engaging firsthand with China's consultative democracy.

The students, coming from universities and secondary schools across the city, are winners of the 2025 Outstanding Youth Mock CPPCC Proposal program. They observed the opening meeting, joined group discussions, and shared proposals on youth development, urban governance, education equity, and public services.

This marks the fourth consecutive year that Hangzhou has invited outstanding youth proposal authors to attend the city's annual CPPCC session. This year's 10 selected mock proposals focused on practical public concerns, including building a pet-friendly city, improving accessibility for the visually impaired, optimizing shared-bike management, and regulating the use of pre-made meals in community canteens.

Several proposals have already been turned into formal CPPCC submissions. One student's proposal on strengthening barrier-free urban facilities for visually impaired residents has received responses from relevant departments.

Over the past three years, 43 youth mock proposals in Hangzhou have been turned into official proposals at the national, provincial, and municipal levels, with several incorporated into local policymaking.

"I wasn't just observing — I was participating," said one student delegate. "This is how confidence in the system takes root."

The Hangzhou CPPCC said it will continue expanding channels for youth participation, encouraging more young people to contribute ideas and insights to city governance through consultative democracy.

A CPPCC member looks through a student proposal. [Photo/Hangzhou CPPCC]