October 10, 2025: For the morning activity, the Shanghai Nanjing Plus group of young American professionals made their first stop at the Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress Standing Committee conference hall, located at 200 Renmin Avenue in Shanghai’s Huangpu district. There the group learned about the People’s Party Congress system and how the full process of the people’s democracy is put into practice in Shanghai.

[Caption: Activity group photo at the Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress Standing Committee conference hall]

[Caption: The activity in progress]

[Caption:  Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress Foreign Affairs Committee Deputy Director and committee member Wang Zhiping giving a speech]

[Caption: Grade Two Inspector of the General Office of the Standing Committee of Shanghai People’s Congress and Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress Foreign Affairs Office Deputy Director Luo Jie speaking to the delegates]

The program was hosted by Grade Two Inspector of the General Office of the Standing Committee of Shanghai People’s Congress and Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress Foreign Affairs Office Deputy Director Luo Jie. At the start of the program, Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress Foreign Affairs Committee Deputy Director and committee member Wang Zhiping welcomed the arrival of the young American professionals. In total, the program was split into three sections starting with an English introductory special report on the Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress, “Stepping in to the People’s Congress”. Next, Deputy Director Wang explained in succession the People’s Party Congress system and the full process of how the people’s democracy is implemented in Shanghai. Deputy Director Wang continued the introduction with an explanation of the current condition of Shanghai as well as the accomplishments achieved regarding the construction of the “Five Centers” in Shanghai. The final segment of the activity was an opportunity for the delegates to engage in an interactive discussion with the hosts.

Having diligently listened the special report and related introductory presentations, the delegates enthusiastically raised questions surrounding Shanghai’s business environment, the Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress and National People’s Congress, the People’s Congress legislative procedures, environmental protection law, and many other topics. Deputy Director Wang patiently and carefully answered each question, while the participants listened respectfully and took notes. What was originally intended to be an hour-long interactive session eventually continued for almost two hours due to the interest and positive exchange between the host and delegates.

Stepping in to The Paper

During the midday session, members of the Shanghai Nanjing Plus delegation stepped into the office of The Paper for visiting and exchange.

[Caption: The Paper activity group photo]

[Caption: Delegates in the multifunctional broadcasting studio]

Following Liberation Daily Reporter Xu Xiaoyu’s guiding lecture, the group first ascended to the second floor up a winding spiral staircase and sequentially toured each section of The Paper’s multi-space, multifunctional broadcasting studio. The group had an immersive experience learning about the powerful visual impacts created by green screen technology and AI technology. Oftentimes during the session, exclamations of wonder and approval, and the sounds of joyful laughter could be heard from inside the studio.

[Caption: The delegates in The Paper exhibit area]

[Caption: The delegates in The Paper interactive news area]

Next, the group caught the elevator up to the 6th floor. Under the guidance of The Paper’s video department journalist Chen Rui, the group proceeded to visit the exhibit area and the interactive news area. The delegates were amazed by the sci-fi style and avant-garde design of The Paper’s reception area, even exclaiming that it felt like “the illusion of entering a space station”.

As it neared lunch time, the group made their way to the Guanjing hall on the 43rd floor of Wenxin News Building. As the delegates arrived to the Guanjing hall, inspired by the expansive view and the clear, beautiful weather that day, they collectively were drawn to the hall’s floor-to-ceiling windows to enjoy the spectacular view of Shanghai from above. There were beaming smiles all around as the delegates expressed their approval of Shanghai’s development, as well as their gratitude to the event’s organizers and host locations for arranging such a carefully planned event.

[Caption: Delegates at the 43rd floor of Wenxin News Building]

[caption: Shanghai United Media Group Foreign Affairs Department Director Xia Jun speaking to the delegates]

[Caption: The Paper Chairman and Editor-in-chief Liu Yonggang speaking to the delegates]

[caption: The Paper International News Center Editor-in-chief Yu Xiaoqing speaking to the delegates]

[Caption: Sixth Tone editor and Voices and Opinion columnist Cai Yiwen speaking to the delegates]

[Caption: PAI CEO Guan Sunhui speaking to the delegates]

The day’s lunchtime exchange event was hosted by The Paper International News Center Chief Editor Yu Xiaoqing. Shanghai United Media Group Foreign Affairs Department Director Xia Jun and The Paper Chairman and Editor-in-chief Liu Yonggang also successively addressed the group. Sixth Tone editor and Voices & Opinions columnist Cai Yiwen then introduced The Paper’s completely digitized English information media product, Sixth Tone. PAI CEO Guan Sunhui presented PAI, a large-scale communication model algorithm that provides in-site intelligent Q&A services for The Paper’s client users.

In the interactive segment, the delegates and The Paper staff engaged in friendly and enthusiastic face-to-face exchange. The delegates also raised questions to The Paper Chairman and Editor-in-chief Liu Yonggang, expressing their deep interest in the company and wishes for the company to continue flourishing.

Stepping into Shanghai University

In the afternoon session, the Shanghai Nanjing Plus delegates visited Shanghai University’s Baoshan campus, located on 716 Jinqiu Road in Shanghai’s Baoshan district. The delegates met with faculty and students of the university at the Lehu New Building Haina hall for an informal discussion and exchange.

[Caption: Group photo at Shanghai University]

[Caption: Delegates entering the Lehu New Building for the informal discussion activity]

[Caption: Shanghai University Vice President Professor Yu Xuemei]

[Caption: Shanghai University School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Dean Dr. Zhang Yufeng speaking to the group]

[Caption: Shanghai University School of Future Technology interim Vice Dean Dr. Song Rui addressing the group]

The afternoon’s conference was hosted by Shanghai University Vice President Professor Yu Xiaomei. The event started off with a showing of the English version of the university’s promotional video. Following this introduction, School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Dean Dr. Zhang Yufeng gave a lecture with the theme of “Developing Innovating Thinking and Stimulating Entrepreneurial Spirit”. School of Future Technology interim Vice Dean Dr. Song Rui then lectured on “Reconstructing Future Technology”.

[Caption: Entrepreneurial student representative speaking to the group]

[Caption: Conversation between Shanghai University Vice President Professor Yu Xuemei and the delegation]

[Caption: Face to face exchange section]

The final activity of the day was the interactive exchange session. To open the conversation, two student representatives with entrepreneurship experience spoke to the group and introduced their respective entrepreneurial projects. From there, the floor was opened for conversation and discussion between the delegates and the four faculty and two student representatives from Shanghai University. The atmosphere of the exchange remained candid and warm; both groups answered the others’ questions thoughtfully and shared ideas. At 4pm, the activity finished with a group photo of all participants to memorialize the event.