Illustration: Chen Xia/GT

I have been following the annual sessions of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress and the Shanghai Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) for the last three years.

I find these occasions important for us foreign diplomats in Shanghai because they provide a compact summary of the past year, and of the future plans of the city leadership.

The People's Congress is certainly a key authority, which, by enacting or amending laws, enables the municipal government to put its plans into practice. The CPPCC, on the other hand, also plays a unique role by reinforcing the human connection in governance. It ensures that different segments of the society develop a sense of ownership of their common problems - that they become not passive but active partners in addressing the challenges. Every year, I find it quite interesting to follow the proposals submitted by CPPCC members. Sometimes, they pinpoint issues or trends which are so much part of our daily lives but may go unnoticed or undefined otherwise. I must say I appreciate the meticulousness of the members in their search for a better life and higher standards.

Over the past few years, the People's Political Consultative Conference has also been quite active in public diplomacy and must be commended for its contributions in promoting mutual understanding between the Chinese and other peoples.

As for this year's annual two sessions, I would make the following observations:

This year's sessions are held amid continued hardships of the global downturn. The work reports submitted to the sessions show that Shanghai realized remarkable achievements in terms of economic and social development, despite this difficult environment.

They also signal clearly how Shanghai plans to fight the challenges in maintaining sustainable growth, economic adjustment and opening up. The targets set for the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone are particularly noteworthy, and I believe will attract due attention from businesses all over the world.

The work reports show that the Shanghai government does not calculate economic development only in terms of figures. They put forward a qualitative concept, with equal emphasis placed on sustainability and people's well-being and high living standards, which is a very positive but equally challenging approach.

It might not always be so easy for decision-makers to come out to the public and admit shortcomings. The work reports, however, make a frank and objective self-assessment. This, I believe, is the best starting point in addressing the challenges ahead, which will further strengthen the people's confidence in the administration.

Finally, as I read through the work reports, I find many common issues and challenges with my own country. Turkey and China are two rapidly developing economies on two ends of the Eurasian continent, which are facing similar pressures in steering a sustainable, environment-friendly, and people-oriented course of economic transformation. There are a lot of areas where we can share our experiences and best practices, particularly with Shanghai as one of the engines of China's growth and opening up. For this purpose, we are giving priority to further increasing the exchanges between the legislative and advisory bodies from both sides.

The author is the Consul General of Turkey in Shanghai.