The amendment to the Election Law adopt-ed by the National People's Congress (NPC) marks a welcome step forward for equal voting rights for both rural and urban residents.
But equal urban-rural representation in legislative bodies isn't the final chapter. Instead, it should become a starting point to speed up domestic efforts to bridge the urban-rural income gap.
Due to China's rapid urbanization - the urban population has increased from about one-eighth of the population a century ago to more than 45 percent presently - the latest legislation that removes the difference in the number of people represented by rural and urban NPC deputies was adopted without issue. An overwhelming majority of NPC deputies voted to give farmers the same rights as urban residents.
But the achievement in voting equality contrasts sharply with the lack of progress in addressing the urban-rural income gap.
Though it's a tougher task to reduce the huge disparity, it's still a worthy goal. Closing the gap will largely determine if China can continue its long-term growth trend in the future.
Equal rights will allow legislators to steer domestic politics in favor of rural demands. The amendment is a clarion call for China to pursue and preserve equality for every citizen.
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