CRI听力:People Live A Better Life Is All I Want: Taiwan-born Political Adviser

Thousands of China's national political advisers are gearing up for this year's session.

CRI's Chloe Lyme has spoken with one who says what they do is simply to try to find ways to help people live better lives, though not every proposal can solve the big problems.

Taiwan-born PLA Political Adviser 

Lin Xianshun is a PLA air force officer born in Taiwan who lives in Beijing.

To most people, he has lived a legendary life. However, it seems he is not so psyched to elaborate on his story that to others seems like something out of the movies.

Sitting in front of his desk with a stack of paperwork, Lin is making his final preparations for this year's annual meetings of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference or CPPCC.

As an airforce pilot, what he cares about most are issues related to planes, though it has nothing to do with battle.

"No, not convenient. My cousin had a business trip here last year. She flew from Kaohsiung. She told me she had to wait days for the next plane even though she only stayed one day here."

The launch of direct flights between the mainland and Taiwan is one of the major moves in the recent history of cross-Straits communication. Now the route between Beijing and Taipei is one of the busiest in the region, but there is only one plane between Beijing and Kaohsiung per week.

Lin made a proposal to increase the number of flights between the two cities last year. He says he is not satisfied with the response from the aviation authorities. So this year he is planning to re-table that proposal.

It is arguably a tiny thing compared with what is supposed to be decided at the annual meeting of the country's national political advisory body. But, official figures show almost 9.5 million people traveled across the Straits last year and the number is expected to top 10 million this year.

"Sitting together and talking is the only way for people to get close. There is no other way."

Lin has made other proposals related to cross-Straits communication, including granting easier access to mainland scholarships for exchange students from Taiwan, and exempting the entry application fee for travelers from the other side of the Strait. All of his proposals are aimed at making communication across the Straits easier.

Apart from attending the annual meeting of the top political advisory body, it is Lin's daily duty to talk to people from Taiwan to learn about what they need.

"I travel with other Party members across China every year especially to places with larger population of businessmen from Taiwan. We interview parents, students and of course businessmen to solicit their needs and suggestions."

Lin's Party, All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots, has more than 30 regional branches across China. At least 60 percent of the political advisors attending the annual national meeting are not members of the Communist Party of China.

For thousands of China's political advisers like Lin, as long as it improves lives, every single proposal counts.

For CRI, I'm Chloe Lyme.