Young people from the Tianjin Democratic Party share their stories of fulfilling their duties: from century-old mansions to brain-computer interfaces

China News Service, Tianjin, September 5th, Title: A "Youth Talk" Hearing the "Echoes of Mountains and Seas" from the Youth of Tianjin Democratic Party

China News Service reporter Sun Lingling

"The words of young people from the democratic parties speak of the faith of a generation and demonstrate the responsibility of the new era." On the 4th, at the learning and sharing meeting of "Work together to shoulder the mission and fulfill the responsibilities of youth - Learning, thinking and practicing enlightenment·Young people of the democratic parties said" held in Tianjin on the 4th, Su Chen, deputy chairman of the Heping District Committee of the Kuomintang and chief of the Investment Promotion and Development Section of the Five Avenues Management Committee of Heping District, expressed the aspirations of all young people from the democratic parties present.

On that day, youth representatives from eight democratic parties took the stage one after another and told stories of their achievements in dual positions based on their respective job practices.

Sharing session site. Photo courtesy of the United Front Work Department of Tianjin Municipal Committee

From a century-old mansion to a garbage sorting line: write down the answers to your duties at the grassroots level

Su Chen is engaged in investment promotion and asset revitalization at the Wudaodao Management Committee of Heping District, Tianjin. She talked about the process of promoting the revitalization of many idle foreign-style buildings such as Zangyuan and Daxingdao Art Center. She particularly shared the case of the protection and utilization of Gu Weijun's former residence - this century-old mansion had been used as an office space for a long time and was once vacant; now, the living room on the first floor displays Gu Weijun's diplomatic career, and the second floor reproduces the life of the hostess Huang Huilan of the old residence. The aroma of coffee wafts from downstairs, and the footsteps of tourists and the sound of explanations are intertwined in the building.

From vacant western-style buildings to revitalization and opening up, Su Chen is the witness and promoter of these changes. She said: "Making century-old buildings 'alive' and letting history 'speak' is the value of our front-line revitalization work."

Tao Junyu, a member of the Democratic League, is an associate professor at the School of Environmental Science and Engineering at Nankai University. He has "crossed over" from the catalytic treatment of organic wastewater to the field of artificial intelligence and solid waste sorting, and has been working on online identification and intelligent sorting technology of garbage for a long time. "When I powered on the developed smart sorting device for the first time, and the robotic arm cooperated with hyperspectral and ultrasonic scanning, more than ten completely different types of garbage were identified one by one and accurately sorted - the fulfilling feeling of 'really chewing off a technical problem', which made me deeply realize that to work for the people is to transform scientific research results into tools to solve practical problems," he said.

Ma Chao, the second-level chief clerk of Binhai New Area Committee of China Democratic National Construction Association, shared the process of the district committee leading the growth of young members in the past ten years. The region's survey results increased from 30 articles in 2021 to 184 articles in 2025, of which young member results accounted for 45.4%. "From a simple message about social conditions and public opinion to a high-quality proposal, the district committee accompanied the young people to polish it bit by bit and make progress again and again."

Yang Linghui, a member of the Democratic Progressive Party, is a professor at the School of Precision Instruments and Optoelectronics Engineering of Tianjin University. His team won the second prize of the 2025 National Science and Technology Progress Award for its breakthrough results in the field of visual precision testing. He shared the academic creed of generations of scholars in the laboratory to “take root in the engineering field and serve the needs of the country.” "Serving the country with instruments does not require grandiose words, but relies on the tenacity of working hard to serve the people."

From battlefield operating tables to brain-computer interfaces: The legacy of doctors’ kindness across time and space

Xu Jiayuan and Wang Yunshen, members of the Peasants’ and Workers’ Party, affectionately reviewed the legendary life of Mr. Wan Funen, the founder of modern medicine in Tianjin and the founder of the Tianjin local organization of the Peasants’ and Workers’ Party in the form of a two-person narration. When the Marco Polo Bridge Incident broke out in 1937, Wan Fu'en organized a medical rescue team and went to the front line of the Anti-Japanese War in central Hebei, staying on the operating table for more than ten hours under a kerosene lamp.

Xu Jiayuan works in the Medical Imaging Department of Tianjin Medical University General Hospital. “The position I am working for is exactly the same general hospital where my husband laid the foundation.” Her scientific research focuses on emotional brain-computer interfaces, relying on imaging, electroencephalography and artificial intelligence technologies to achieve precise diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses. "In his early years, he opened up the forbidden area of neurosurgery and bravely entered the no-man's land of medicine. Now we have iteratively updated the technology from traditional scalpels to digital intelligent diagnosis and treatment, but the original intention of doctors to empathize with the pain and explore the true meaning of life remains the same."

Wang Yunshen is a pediatrician at Tianjin Children’s Hospital. He said that in the past, he only understood the duty of doctors to treat illnesses and save lives. After joining the Peasants and Workers Party, he understood the deeper mission of his ancestors - to base on his professional advantages, understand the pain points of people's livelihood, and participate in politics for the public and work hard for the people.

From the "returnee station" to the western podium: integrating personal ideals into the overall situation of the country

Chen Jian, the person in charge of the operation of the Returnee Station of the Zhigongdang Municipal Committee, shared the four-year construction process of the "Returnee Station". Yizhan has innovatively built a "six one" operating mechanism, has introduced three high-end returnee science and innovation teams to take root in Jingu, and built a talent pool of thousands of returnees. “Participating in politics and serving the public good is not about talking on paper, but actually doing something for the people is about helping people solve their problems.”

Liu Haifeng, a member of Jiusan Society, is a professor at Tianjin University and deputy director of the Tianjin Youth Working Committee of Jiusan Society. He shared the practice of the Youth Working Committee in selecting young members to serve as vice principals of science in primary and secondary schools. In 2025, he responded to the country's call to support the construction of the western region and became assistant to the president of Guangxi University. "Integrating personal ideals into the overall development of the country - this sentiment is also the value orientation that the Youth Working Committee guides the majority of young members to pursue together."

Peng Yanfang, a member of the Taiwan League, is a young lawyer. She told the story of Cai Shiyan, the former chairman of the Tianjin Municipal Committee of the Taiwan League, who spent his life fighting to fulfill his original intention of patriotism and serving the country. After practicing law, she joined the Tianjin Heping District Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan-related Public Welfare Legal Consulting Center to provide public welfare legal services to Taiwanese companies and Taiwanese compatriots in Tianjin. "When democratic parties perform their duties, they must not only cultivate feelings for the family and the country, but also bear in mind the great cause of reunification of the motherland and care about the welfare of the people."

According to reports, the learning and sharing brand activity of "Learning, Thinking and Practicing·Democratic Party Youth Talk" was officially launched in 2022. It is led by the United Front Work Department of the Tianjin Municipal Party Committee and organized by the municipal committees of the democratic parties on a rotating basis. Up to now, organizations at all levels of the city’s democratic parties have carried out 180 youth speaking activities of various types, with more than 8,000 people participating. (over)