Ye Xiaowen is a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), vice-chairman of the Committee on Culture, Historical Data and Studies of the CPPCC National Committee and deputy head of the reading guidance group of CPPCC members. [Photo provided to cppcc.gov.cn]

Ye Xiaowen, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), has been committed to serving the country and the people for more than 20 years.

Telling the stories of the CPPCC well

On Jan 17, Ye won the 2022 outstanding performance award for members of the CPPCC National Committee. This is the highest award in my life," he said.

Ye is a senior Party cadre and also a scholarly official. He has given many lectures both at home and abroad and won numerous honors, but as a CPPCC veteran, he feels that the award of outstanding performance of duties was a shining moment in his 23 years of service in the CPPCC.

Ye became a member of the CPPCC National Committee in 1998  while working as head of the National Religious Affairs Administration. Since then, he had been with the CPPCC National Committee for five consecutive terms. Later, he served as a member of the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee for two years.

He rejoined the CPPCC National Committee again in 2016, and took the position as vice-chairman of the Committee on Culture, Historical Data and Studies. He has been firmly upheld the Party's policies and ideas, and put forward many proposals from his point of view during his time in the organization.

After the 20th CPC National Congress, Ye launched a column titled "Study Notes of the 20th CPC National Congress" and wrote more than 20 articles that were published in People's Daily, Economic Daily and CPPCC Daily. He also lectured on "cultural support for a stronger China" at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.

Telling the stories of the CPPCC well is part of efforts to tell China's stories well. Many CPPCC members were witnesses of and participants in the country's major decision-making process and key projects. Their experiences are of great value to historical research. "CPPCC members' memories are treasure for the nation, and should be well preserved," Ye said.

In March 2022, Ye submitted a proposal on recording the oral history told by CPPCC members at the fifth Session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee. This proposal has been adopted and implementation is underway.

As an important channel for socialist consultative democracy and a special consultative body, the CPPCC has become a key component of national governance in the new era.

The reading activities of CPPCC members has been a creative measure carried out by the 13th CPPCC National Committee in line with the overall work of the Party and the country, functions and responsibility of the CPPCC, and requirements of the time and development situation.

The vivid form and active atmosphere of the WeChat group for reading activities won acclaim from the leadership of the CPPCC National Committee.

As deputy head of the reading guidance group, Ye encouraged CPPCC members to share their understandings and ideas in the WeChat group. He also opened a special column for articles and poems, and invited CPPCC members to discuss topics on culture, science and medicine .

"The Chinese nation and civilization have an uninterrupted history of 5,000 years. Calmness, elegance and peace are the temperament of a cultural power," Ye said, adding that the "sparks of thought" formed in the reading activities should be developed into the "torch of wisdom". He suggested connecting the CPPCC members' reading activities with the nationwide  reading campaign to nurture the Chinese nation's noble and elegant spirit through book reading.

Since the launch of the reading activities in 2020, Ye has published three books, collecting thoughts and ideas written by him in the WeChat group. In October 2022, he published a 500,000-character book, and his latest work is now underway and is expected to be published in 2023.

Putting energy and love into CPPCC work

Ye was a farmer and then served in the army. He skipped several grades to attend the postgraduate program after the first year in university. At the beginning of China's reform and opening-up, he studied in Beijing as the representative of Southwest China's Guizhou province.

In 1985, Ye served as secretary of the Guizhou Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League. In 1990, he was promoted to a post at the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China, which was followed by stints at the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, the National Religious Affairs Administration and the Central Institute of Socialism.

Behind each of Ye's steps is his persistent and accumulated learning. The spirit is also embodied in his performance as a CPPCC member.

Kunniu Mountain at Shiqian county of Guizhou is known historically as a place where the Red Army soldiers sacrificed themselves to protect local people. In May 2021, Ye visited the area and was deeply moved when he learned about the story. He submitted a proposal seeking State-level support for making Kunniu Mountain a national education base for promotion of revolutionary history during the two sessions in 2022. With many efforts, the Kunniu Mountain Exhibition Center was established in the same year.

Ye stays curious about many things just like a young person. He began to learn violoncello at 60, and set up an amateur symphony orchestra. He also opened a personal WeChat official account where he publishes an article every three days.

Ye has a clean and bright heart and fully puts his energy and love into his CPPCC work to serve the country and its people.