Shen Jilan

Shen Jilan (; 29 December 1929 – 28 June 2020) was a Chinese politician affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party and was a former farmer. She held numerous governance positions and was elected to the 1st National People's Congress in 1954, and went on to be re-elected for all subsequent sittings of the National People's Congress over the next 65 years, the only person with this distinction. This has led to some commentators calling her the world's longest-serving congresswoman.

Shen was bestowed the Medal of the Republic, the highest honorary medal of the People's Republic of China, in September 2019.

Biography Shen was born in Pingshun County, Shanxi, on 29 December 1929. Her father, Song Jinshui , died early. In 1934, her mother, Wu Quanxiang , remarried to Shen Hengtai , a doctor in Pingshun County. Shen Jilan grew up in Pingshun County. In 1943, she responded to a call by Mao Zedong and the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party to establish party organisation in Xigou village alongside Li Shunda. Together with other farming families, she established a local agricultural labour mutual aid group and defence force. The success of this local cooperative allowed Shen to rise to prominence within the Party in the 1950s.

In 1952, she was encouraged by higher powers in the Communist Party to widen the cooperative to cover 26 individual farms – the first production cooperative to be established in the People's Republic of China. On the establishment of this wider cooperative Jilan was elected deputy president. She established a working women's group to carry out agricultural work.

In 1954, she proposed the addition of the equal pay for equal work clause in the first constitution of China to reduce the gender pay gap, and her proposal was adopted.

In 1953, Shen joined the Chinese Communist Party and gained widespread media attention due to the success of the farming cooperative. There is a museum dedicated to Jilan's life in Xigou.

She was considered a somewhat controversial figure by democracy activists given the fact she never voted against the party. These activists criticised her voting in favour of the Hong Kong national security law in 2020.

Personal life Shen was married to Zhang Hailiang , a veteran of the Korean War who later became director of Changzhi Municipal Urban Construction Bureau. The couple had one son and two daughters. In order of birth: Zhang Lizhen (; director of a military hospital in Handan), Zhang Jiangping (; Party chief of Changzhi Municipal Food Bureau), and Zhang Jiang'e (; staff member of Changzhi Municipal Engineering Division).

Political Positions Loyalty to the Party In 2009 during the 2nd Session of the 11th National People's Congress, Shen was interviewed by Henan Business Daily, and she said

Her statement drew wide attention. Some media pointed out that Shen supported struggle sessions against Liu Shaoqi during the Cultural Revolution, while she supported rehabilitation for him after the Cultural Revolution ended.

In 2011, Shen said that

Internet control During 2012 National People's Congress, Shen said

The Southern Metropolis Daily further reported her opinion that some people browsed inappropriate contents online, toxicating the youth.

No contact with voters During 2012 National People's Congress, Shen stated that it would be inappropriate for the Representatives of the People's Congress to communicate with voters in elections.

Superiority of socialist states In 2011, China expanded the trial target population of the new rural social pension insurance, and many farmers older than 60 enjoyed pension for the first time. In 2013, Shen said