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During the third session of the 14th Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress, Zhao Qiaojuan, a Jiaxing's deputy, presented a motion on rural pension.

Born and bred in the rural area of Haining, a county-level city of Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, Zhao has devoted years to advancing rural development.

Zhao Qiaojuan talks with villagers to gain insight into their daily lives. [Photo/jiaxingren.com]

Before this year's provincial two sessions, Zhao immersed herself in extensive field visits across Jiaxing's rural landscapes. She noticed a looming crisis surrounding the pensions of only-child families.

Consider Xinyi village in Xucun town, Haining, for instance. Among its 4,000 registered denizens, nearly 40 percent are over 60. A majority of these seniors have just one child, thrusting the burden of caring for two elderly parents onto a single individual.

While the government allocates monthly subsidies to parents with only one child, these funds fall short of meeting the elderly's essential needs. Moreover, certain farmers are excluded from receiving aid due to policy constraints.

Zhao documented her findings and crafted insightful recommendations, which she presented during the provincial two sessions.

In recent years, Zhao's suggestions, such as advocating for tax incentives for village-level collective economic entities, have garnered the attention of the provincial administration. These initiatives have yielded tangible policy benefits, fostering rural revitalization and propelling Jiaxing towards comprehensive urban-rural integration and development.