Shanghai, 17 October 2025 — A Cambodian National Assembly Secretariat-General delegation, led by H.E. Dr. Chheang Vannarith, Deputy Secretary-General and Chairman of the Advisory Council, and H.E. Khuon Davith, Deputy Secretary-General, visited a grassroots legislative outreach office in Shanghai on Friday morning.

The delegation expressed keen interest in learning about the history, structure, and functions of Shanghai’s grassroots legislative outreach office — a pioneering initiative of President Xi Jinping in advancing whole-process people’s democracy. The visit introduced the delegation to the “Shanghai Model” and its best practice sites, which enable citizens to participate directly in public decision-making and governance.

During the visit, the delegation learned about Shanghai’s Ten Major Actions for Grassroots Legislative Advocacy, a framework designed to deepen civic participation and enhance the effectiveness of local legislation.

The Ten Major Actions include:

1.  Strengthened Political Leadership: Implement measures to enhance Party building for foundational guidance and direction.

2.  Legislative Quality Enhancement: Initiate actions to improve the standard and effectiveness of local legislative processes.

3.  Supervisory Efficacy Improvement: Undertake steps to reinforce the practical impact of oversight conducted by the People's Congress.

4.  Deliberation on Major Matters: Focus the People's Congress's mandate on the consideration and resolution of significant policy issues.

5.  Deepening Consultative Practices: Execute actions to intensify multi-tiered dialogue and consensus-oriented deliberation within the People's Congress.

6.  Duty Performance Accountability: Define and enforce actions for deputies to the People's Congress regarding the discharge of their designated responsibilities.

7.  Grassroots Engagement in Governance: Promote deputy participation in local governance and exemplary community service focused on development and public welfare.

8.  Demonstration of Democratic Practice: Encourage deputies to pioneer and exemplify the principles of whole-process people's democracy.

9.  Technological Modernization: Execute actions to fully integrate and leverage digital technology to optimize the efficiency and quality of the People's Congress's operations.

10.  Strategic Communication Development: Establish and expand the publicity and outreach framework for effective storytelling and image projection.

H.E. Dr. Chheang Vannarith praised Shanghai’s innovative approach, describing it as “a people-centered model of democracy that strengthens accountability and participation.”

H.E. Khuon Davith noted that the experience would provide valuable lessons for Cambodia’s local governance and provincial–municipal parliamentary reform efforts.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation and sharing best practices to advance people-centered democracy and good governance.

China currently operates more than 50 outreach offices nationwide to promote citizen engagement in public policy design and implementation.