Over my 10 years in China, I paid close attention to the country's poverty alleviation work and had the chance to visit some of the last villages lifted out of poverty, in places such as Guizhou province and the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.
Walking through the narrow lanes of these rural communities, I saw local committees coordinating efforts to create jobs, develop tourism, improve education, and protect the environment — all tailored to each village's unique needs.
Wherever I went, even in the most remote areas, I met officials who knew their communities deeply, and I began to understand how China's governance system turned national strategy into local action.
I also kept up with the publication of all the volumes of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China and read many of President Xi's other books. I even contributed to editing and proofreading translations of his works into Portuguese.
These experiences helped me grasp the philosophy behind China's whole-process people's democracy, a system that allows citizens, including ethnic groups, to participate at every stage of policy-making — from planning to implementation — unlike Western representative democracy, which relies heavily on elections.
The accessibility of governance theories through President Xi's writings has made this participation more possible and active. Ordinary citizens are not only able to understand the rationale behind policies, but they can also suggest improvements and see their ideas reflected in both local and national initiatives.
Even as a foreigner, I found this system transparent and inclusive: I could attend public briefings, read official reports, and discuss policy limitations with local committees, contributing ideas to make daily life smoother for the international community and the country more attractive to international talent.
I witnessed firsthand how policies moved beyond theory into practice.
In one village, for example, a small cooperative was established to process local agricultural products. I watched as villagers who had spent decades in poverty were now operating machinery, negotiating with buyers, and learning digital marketing strategies. I realized that the state's efforts aimed to empower people with knowledge, skills, and sustainable livelihoods — not just provide financial aid.
