We are all “time-starved”

The five-day 2025 Nanjing Two Sessions is about to come to an end. How can the significance of the “big event” and “important event” of the two sessions be easily applied to our ordinary lives? Peeling off all the grand narratives, we can find the answers from some proposals close to life.

During this year’s Two Sessions, a CPPCC member said in his proposal to promote a “rider-friendly community” that Nanjing, as a city of fraternity, needs more forceful and warm measures to treat these “people in a hurry” well, so that they can truly feel that they are being valued, respected and needed.

In fact, there are many similar livelihood proposals during the annual two sessions. Why is it singled out? Because, through such a simple and sincere expression, the value pursuit of the two sessions has a vivid portrait.

“People who are in a hurry” are the “riders” who shuttle through the streets and alleys, and they are also the figures of each of us ordinary strivers.

In his 2025 New Year’s message, General Secretary Xi Jinping said, “On the new journey of China’s modernization, everyone is a protagonist, every contribution is precious, and every ray of light shines brightly.”

At any time, people are the most valuable asset of a city. People who are in a hurry should seize every development opportunity with an attitude of “not relaxing for a moment”. The superposition of each responsible attitude towards life constitutes the posture that a city should have.

The two sessions are important planning and layout. This year, Nanjing’s two sessions were held four days earlier than last year. On the one hand, the 2025 Lunar New Year will come earlier; on the other hand, in the fierce competition situation of “the pacesetter is getting farther away and the pursuers are getting closer”, Nanjing must be more motivated to seize the initiative. Among the nearly 600 CPPCC proposals that have been preliminarily reviewed and are intended to be filed, more than 200 are about building an industrial city and stabilizing growth, promoting industrial technological innovation and talent development, accounting for nearly 40%, with a clear direction.

Industrial technological innovation is a “must-answer question” for Nanjing to take the lead and be at the forefront. The city’s “First Meeting of the New Year” proposed to promote the deep integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation, and to build a major industrial technological innovation bearing area with global influence. Because the kinetic energy of development is changing, the current difficulties are inevitable, but as long as confidence does not decline, there are always more solutions than difficulties. Through the proposals, it can be seen that the city is working together to think in development and to forge ahead in thinking.

Development requires patience and determination, and patience and determination are based on walking on the right path. Development can create more opportunities, more possibilities, and a better life. This is the grand narrative that the two sessions will definitely not avoid.

To make every grand narrative bear fruit, we must answer the question of “for whom is development for?” Just like the second half of the sentence of the CPPCC member, “people in a hurry” should be taken seriously, respected, and needed. “Riders” should of course be treated well, and so should everyone who lives seriously.

At the “Xiaobei Rider Micro Home” in Jiangbei New District, the riders looked around curiously at this “home” built specifically for them. Air conditioning, hot water, sockets, Internet, microwave ovens, a short break can cure the biting cold wind in the cold winter, rest your feet, eat a meal, charge your battery, and maybe run two more orders in the afternoon.

How did they repay the kindness they received? They spontaneously arranged a “duty roster” and took charge of the sanitation of the hut. There was no grand narrative, but isn’t this a vivid embodiment of the concept of “co-construction, co-governance and sharing”? There was also kindness from strangers on the message wall, “Safety is important, if you exceed the time limit, please order in advance and it will be delivered.” It was so warm and touched people’s hearts.

Aren’t the suggestions and proposals made by the deputies and committee members intended to be just this kind of “gentle and gentle rain”? To make mutual understanding happen in a subtle and silent way. The light that shines from understanding is worth more than a thousand gold.

In addition to the universal topics of the general public, there are also proposals such as “providing comprehensive insurance services for Alzheimer’s patients” and “establishing special education schools for children with autism.” They may seem niche, but think about it from another perspective: in a society where the rights and demands of a minority are cared for, don’t we have more confidence and confidence to believe in good things happening?