Jiang Min, 32, and Luo Wei, 26, have much in common. They came from southwest China's Sichuan Province where a 8.0-magnitude earthquake struck in 2008. They were elected as freshman delegates to the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and they brought their newborns to Beijing, the venue for the weeklong congress.
Jiang is a police officer. She was honored for her heroic deeds after fainting from fatigue many times while burying the sorrow of losing 10 family members including her mother and two-year-old daughter to the devastating quake.
Luo works in a beverage company in Guangyuan. She donated part of her liver to a total stranger at age 19. She donated the money people raised for her surgery to set up non-profit organizations for seniors and children of migrant workers.
Jiang's son is four and a half months old, and Luo's daughter is five months.
After the congress opened on November 8, they fed the babies before the meetings in the morning and at midday breaks, and handed them over to family members before rushing to the meetings in the afternoon to vote or discuss with other delegates.
"It is not an easy job taking the baby to the congress, but everything will be ok," Jiang said. "I would leave the baby at home if she is older. I am grateful to the event organizers for the convenience, and I will fulfill my duty as a congressional delegate," Luo said.
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Jiang Min (left) makes phone calls for work while a nanny takes care of her son (JI LIWANG) |
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Jiang Min talks to other delegates during a lunch break (JI LIWANG) |
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Jiang Min holds her napping son (JI LIWANG) |
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Luo Wei holds her daughter before boarding the flight to Beijing on November 6 (HE HAIYANG) |
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Luo Wei reads documents while holding her daughter after a delegation session on November 10 (SICHUANDAILY.COM) |
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Luo Wei continues reading as her daughter sleeps(SICHUANDAILY.COM) | |