Meng Sufen

Political career Following the capture of Zhenfeng County by the People's Liberation Army in December 1949, Meng joined the Chinese Communist Party’s land reform efforts. Her ability to connect with Bouyei villagers, fluency in the local language and mobilizing communities led to her recruitment into the land reform work team in December 1950. She served as a member of the land reform team in Zhenfeng County, district cadre, director of the Zhenfeng County Women’s Federation, and staff member of the Guizhou Provincial Women’s Federation. During this period, she studied at the Guizhou Provincial Communist Party School and the district government's civilian cadre school, learning Mandarin and developing her leadership skills.

In September 1954, Meng was elected as a delegate to the 1st National People's Congress in Beijing, where she voted for the adoption of the People's Republic of China’s first constitution. From 1998 to 2003, Meng served as a member of the Standing Committee of the 9th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, contributing to national policy through inspections, proposals, and grassroots engagement. She retired in December 2003.

Meng was known for her compassion and accessibility, earning the nickname "Mrs. Meng" among Bouyei communities. She supported initiatives like rural girls’ education, funding for disabled students and aided school renovations.

Later life Meng died on 17 March 2020, in Guiyang at age 87. Her obituary, published in Guizhou Daily, praised her as an outstanding Communist Party member who dedicated her life to socialism, women’s rights, and ethnic unity. General Secretary Xi Jinping and former General Secretary Hu Jintao expressed condolences on Meng's death.