NANJING: To Rudi Von Meister, attending an event as important as the opening of the third session of the 11th People's Congress of Jiangsu province in Nanjing on Tuesday was more than an eye opener.

It was also a great opportunity for him and other foreign guests to gain a better understanding of the political mechanism that is important to foreign investors.

For the first time, foreigners were invited to attend the local session. Other foreign dignitaries present at the meeting were Christopher J. Beede, deputy principal officer of the United States Consulate General in Shanghai and the consulate's deputy chief of the political and economic section.