Li Pengxuan, a 29-year-old deliveryman from Linyi County in Shanxi province, was invited to a seminar held at the Zhongnanhai compound in Beijing on Jan. 31 because of a short message he left on the official website of China's State Council, the country's cabinet, half a year ago.
Li Pengxuan holds a card with the sign "Share Your Thoughts with China's Premier Li," the name of the column where he left a message half a year ago. [Photo from www.gov.cn]
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang chaired the seminar soliciting suggestions for the draft of this year's Government Work Report. Nine representatives, including professionals from higher education, science and technology, culture, healthcare and sports circles, as well as members of the public, gave their suggestions on how to improve the report.
The premier will deliver the final work report at the annual session of the National People's Congress in early March.
"I never expected a message could enable me to meet Premier Li. It's unbelievable," Li Pengxuan said.
Half a year ago, the young man submitted a message via "Share Your Thoughts with China's Premier Li," a column on the official website of the State Council, proposing insurance coverage for deliveries of fresh agricultural products in case of spoilage or other potential liabilities.
He thought the message might never be seen. However, to his surprise, it was the 195-Chinese character proposal that made him the first deliveryman to talk with Premier Li face-to-face at Zhongnanhai.
At the seminar, he expressed his hope that the government would promote cooperation between the insurance and express delivery industries to pave a better way for delivery of fresh agro produce into cities. He also suggested that policies be implemented to tackle issues relating to parking and travelling of delivery vehicles.
Li Pengxuan's hometown is one of the top ten counties by fruit production in China. He operates a delivery station for Best Express, one of the country's major courier services, to help local villagers send apples and other kinds of fruit to online buyers nationwide.
The man said his delivery station handled a total of 120,000 parcels in 2017, 100,000 of which were fresh fruit parcels. However, without insurance, profits were meager as fruits were easily perishable. He had to compensate customers for damages arising from fruit deterioration and other factors during delivery.
Li said, "I can make a profit of between 6,000 yuan and 7,000 yuan per month, but I have to pay 3,000 to 4,000 yuan to customers in compensation."
In response to his proposal, Premier Li said China's express delivery industry is developing fast and well, and plays an important role in invigorating domestic economy.
The Premier said the government encourages and supports the development of new industries and business modes, including the express delivery sector, and has taken various measures to lower logistical costs.
The deliveryman recalled that the Premier also asked relevant government departments to step up studies on issues the public are concerned with and work out solutions to ensure smooth delivery of fresh products.
The Premier said deliveries of fresh products can help farmers get rich and serve as a main force driving rural market development.
"Premier Li is very amiable and he is greatly concerned about people's livelihood," Li Pengxuan said after the seminar concluded.
