The ongoing 16th CPC National Congress, which began on November 8, is participated in by over 2,000 delegates representing 66 million Party members. Women delegates account for 18 percent of the total. Who are they? And what are they thinking about the Party's important event? China.org.cn will present their stories in a series.

Zhu Lilian: The "Iron-Faced" Tax Collector

Zhu Lilian, a 48-year-old tax collector, is popularly known as "Aunt Lian" in Fuyong, a town in suburban Shenzhen where she works. Among the companies doing business in Fuyong, Zhu is famed as an "iron-faced" woman. In 1997, the taxes she and her 16 colleagues collected amounted 96 million yuan (US$11.6 million), ranking the second in Bao'an district where Fuyong town is situated.

Zhu has been working with the tax administration for more than 20 years. "No one can be a veteran in the career of tax collection," as is said. To catch up with the changing situation, Zhu attends classes three or four nights a week. Her diligence moved her young colleagues and they, too, study hard. Her branch of tax administration often ranks among the tops of the district in various checks and examinations. Zhu also sets up strict regulations for tax collection: to make all the bills and notes in good order and available anytime, to guarantee no less collection of tax and no formality missing; and to conduct strict auditing procedure in every process. Zhu's Fuyong tax station has been awarded as "advanced unit" for the past 10 years. This year, Bao'an branch of Shenzhen Tax Administration chose Fuyong as an experimental spot for the Sunshine Project which puts the tax collection under direct supervision of tax payers and the society as a whole.

Of course, as a tax collector, Zhu faces numerous temptations, as a Chinese saying goes, "One can hardly avoid wetting one's shoes if one keeps going by the water." Once, Zhu and her colleague discovered a tax evasion of 1.1 million yuan (US$133,000) by a construction company. The finance manager of the company visited Zhu's office and attempted to bribe her by offering her an envelop full of cash. Zhu refused determinedly and demanded the company to pay their tax plus a fine.

"I've offended a couple of relatives, bosses, and even some leaders who tried to intercede for tax evasion. But I am still convinced that it is my duty to maintain the dignity of state taxation and I will never do anything against my will and principle."

Her loyalty to the Party and people won her respect from the society. Now a deputy to the 16th party congress, she is in Beijing, ready for the congress.

Liang Xiaoping: Champion Coach's Olympic Dream

Liang Xiaoping, 42 years old, won numerous gold medals in national games when she was a speed skater. She became a speed skating coach after retiring as an athlete. Under her instruction, the skaters of her team have won 95 championships in national competitions and four in Asian games. Eight of the national speed skating records have been created by members of her team. She deserves the title of "Champion Coach."

Liang said although she and her team have won a lot of gold medals, there is still a dream yet to be realized -- their Olympics champion dream.

Liang Xiaoping devotes herself so completely to the training that she refuses to use either a pager or a cell phone so as to keep disturbances away. Her training course is tough, of course. No one is allowed to leave the skating court without finishing his or her assignment for the day. Once Liu Guanghui, holder of men's national records for the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters, asked Liang for a break and promised to finish the rest of the training the next day since he was totally exhausted. Liang refused his request without any hesitation. Liu went back to skating with tears. After the training, Liang said to Liu emotionally, "If it were a contest, could you ask the committee to postpone it because you are tired? Defeating yourself means defeating your rivals."

As a wife and mother, Liang has missed a lot in her family life. She feels guilty because she has spent too little time with her son. Her 13-year-old boy complained that his mom cares only her trainees. It is true that he can hardly remember how long it has been since the last time he had a meal cooked by his mother.

Liang gets full support from her husband, also a former athlete, though. "At home, I play the roles of both father and mother," he said. "But I understand it is not easy for a woman to pursue her career. I support her full-heartedly."

Li Shumin: A Woman Full of Passion

Li Shumin is secretary of the Party committee of Little Duck Inc. Group, an enterprise in east China's Shandong Province involved in the manufacture of such products as washing machine, water heater, refrigerator and air conditioner. This year she has gone through an extraordinarily difficult period following the restructuring of the company's leading group.

Li insists in playing her roles with three identities: a citizen of People's Republic of China, a member of the Communist Party of China and a leader of Little Duck Inc. Group. She sets herself the principle that in whatever role, she should always take the lead, in solving problems, mastering new knowledge and learning new managerial methods.

Last summer, Little Duck recruited more than 100 new university graduates. Li set a training course for them and invited people of the company's development department to give lectures so as to help these young people get mentally prepared for crisis and learn how to work as a team. In this way, she hoped these new employees could recognize the challenges of fierce market competition and combine their ideals with reality. Li also proposed to introduce such trainings among the middle-level administrative personnel. "The team spirit is what we need most in time of difficulty," she said.

This year Li was elected delegate to the 16th National Congress of CPC. She said she would try her best to implement the "Three Represents" theory, which focuses on the future role of the CPC as representatives of "the development trend of China's advanced productive forces, the orientation of China's advanced culture and the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the Chinese people."

Li has prepared many proposals for discussion at the congress.

(China.org.cn November 11, 2002)