In his residence room at the Beijing Friendship Hotel, the research notes of National Committee member Li Donghao, who also serves as Vice Chairman of the Yanbian Prefecture CPPCC and a professor at Yanbian University, are spread across his desk. These notes document his activities over the past year: visits to nearly ten ginseng processing enterprises, conversations with more than twenty ginseng farmers while working alongside them in the fields, and participation in multiple product development seminars. "Sitting in the office, one encounters only problems; going out for research, one sees all the solutions," he remarked. As a representative from an ethnic border region, Li Donghao always keeps the green mountains and clear waters of his homeland in mind, determined to transform the high-quality resources of Changbai Mountain into genuine drivers for regional development and benefits for the people's livelihood.
Yanbian, located in the heart of the Changbai Mountain area, boasts an excellent ecological environment and abundant natural resources. It possesses unique endowments of traditional Chinese medicinal materials, along with rare and advantageous conditions for cultivating genuine regional medicinal herbs. For many years, Li Donghao has been deeply involved both in scientific research—leading multiple projects and promoting the transformation of ginseng-related achievements—and in grassroots engagement, visiting ginseng-growing villages and processing plants to communicate directly with farmers and practitioners, continuously advocating for the development of specialty industries.
During his previous terms, several of his proposals concerning the ginseng industry received significant attention and strong promotion from relevant national departments, helping to break down numerous barriers for the sector. By the end of 2023, the restriction on the cultivation period for artificially planted ginseng—previously set at five years or less—was lifted. Furthermore, on May 1, 2024, ginseng was officially included in the catalog of raw materials for health foods, further advancing the development of processed ginseng products and health food research, turning the humble ginseng seedling into a "golden seed" for enriching border communities.
This year, he continues to focus on the development of characteristic biological resources from Changbai Mountain, paying close attention to the industrial utilization of plant resources that serve both medicinal and food purposes. He is committed to converting ecological and resource advantages into industrial and economic benefits, making border-region specialty industries stronger and more vibrant.
Beyond specialty industry development, Li Donghao is also concerned with another important matter: how to make high-quality traditional Chinese medicine resources accessible to more people at the grassroots level. He is considering how to gradually introduce clinically proven, affordable Chinese medicinal preparations and appropriate technologies into village clinics and township health centers, enabling residents to access TCM services right at their doorstep. "This can not only meet the health needs of the public but also create employment platforms for young TCM talents, ensuring that the valuable heritage left by our ancestors is passed down through generations."
"Serving as a CPPCC member means fulfilling duties responsibly, caring both about national affairs and the well-being of the people," Li Donghao stated. He added that he will continue to conduct in-depth research based on his practical work and the specific development needs of ethnic border regions, bringing grassroots opinions and development demands to the Two Sessions, so that the ecological benefits of Changbai Mountain and the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine can continue to benefit all ethnic groups in the border areas.
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