The NPC Standing Committee quickly set up online chat groups to tackle proposals presented by deputies to the 13th NPC during the fifth session of the Congress in March last year. Other measures, including video calls and video conferences, were also introduced to increase communication with deputies.

In addition to joining the online group, Fu attended seminars via video link several times from 2018 to 2022 — her five-year term as a deputy to the 13th NPC.

"All these online methods meant I could perform my work more efficiently, especially during the COVID-19 epidemic," Fu said.

Official data show that deputies to the 13th NPC submitted 9,203 suggestions during its fifth session, mainly covering technology, education, healthcare, development plans and social affairs.

To ensure deputies could track the entire process involved in handling their advice, the NPC Standing Committee set up an online chat group for each proposal and invited government officials to take part in this work.

"In short, the deputies, including myself, were provided with a 'bridge' to directly contact those handling our proposals — accelerating our exchanges of information, and giving us more time for further research and to offer new advice," Fu said.

Li Zongsheng, another deputy to the 13th NPC and a lawyer from Liaoning province, said he has also benefited from such online groups.

"I could follow and be told which stage my suggestions had reached while I made my way from the law firm or court, which meant I could perform my duties as a deputy any time and anywhere," he said.

"Compared with carrying written documents to Beijing while attending annual sessions of the NPC and waiting for calls from its Standing Committee after the sessions closed, the online method is more efficient and convenient, helping us use the time saved to fulfill our duties."