WITH the city’s “two sessions” season in full swing, nearly 500 political advisors have presented their proposals at the Fifth Session of the Seventh Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, which began Monday. During the first session of the members’ passage interviews — informal interviews with the media that take place in the entrance passage of the meeting building, allowing the members to publicize their efforts — six advisors from various fields offered suggestions on key topics, including the biopharmaceutical industry, modernization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), global tech collaboration, and child welfare systems. Sheng Sitong proposed promoting AI applications in biopharmaceuticals, creating scenarios for new products to accelerate market entry, and fostering cooperation with international firms and startups to introduce advanced technologies to China through partnerships or acquisitions. Gao Jinmin highlighted the potential of technology in modernizing TCM, suggesting Shenzhen support internet-based TCM hospitals and integrate synthetic biology with medicinal herbs to develop innovative foods. Li Jianmo emphasized the need for Shenzhen to expand global sci-tech cooperation to maintain its position as a global center of sci-tech innovation. He recommended leveraging alumni networks from top international institutions to establish a science and technology association in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Zone and creating a global collaboration platform and information-sharing mechanism. Pan Zhengyan called for stronger child protection mechanisms and guardianship supervision systems. She advised creating rapid response systems and a robust child welfare framework to safeguard the nation’s future. Kan Wai-mun urged deeper cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong and proposed streamlining customs clearance models, such as a “white list” system for Hetao’s Shenzhen and Hong Kong parks and a “joint inspection, single release” model for the new Huanggang Checkpoint. She also suggested integrating the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Faster Payment System with the mainland’s Cross-border Inter-Bank Payment System to enhance cross-border financial services. Xu Qilin advocated for Shenzhen to boost its international competitiveness in art trading by making the market more transparent and standardized. He proposed funding research into advanced authentication technologies, utilizing AI and big data for valuation models, and creating an art provenance database by utilizing blockchain technology and online-offline trading platforms to position Shenzhen as a global hub for art trading. (Wang Jingli) | 