In the age of Weibo and WeChat, legislation in China has changed from closed-door to open-door, allowing the general public to see drafts of proposed laws before they are enacted. 

The just-concluded annual Two Sessions of the legislature and political advisory body have underscored how the Internet is playing a key role in shaping China's future.

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What was once a political process wrapped in mystery has become an open forum for ordinary citizens to weigh in with their opinions, critique and suggestions - the very signs of a thriving democracy in a socialist state.

Robin Li, the young billionaire CEO of Baidu, China's number one search engine, articulated it best when he said, "Internet will change China, making the country much stronger." 

Li and other technology leaders were, for the first time, invited as speakers at the CPPCC annual session, a clear indication that the central government now recognizes Internet think-tanks as key players in the country's political affairs.

The central government itself was reaching out to the public by posting news updates on the Two Sessions twice a day on its WeChat account.

Alibaba had opened a chat group called "Delegates get together in here", while Sina promoted a mobile online chat by Laiwang App called "Zhadui/get together".

By March 5, Zhadui chat members had reached 24,200.

Celebrity delegates Zong Qinghou, Guo Guangchang, Chi Fulin and Li Shufu, Ma Yun, Ren Zhiqiang, Zhao Wei and Shen Guojun joined the public in discussions over social issues.

"Cannot be a CPPCC member without any contribution. I cannot afford that kind of scold," singer and CPPCC member, Han Hong, said on Zhadui.

Han had been proposing to strengthen sex education and protection for rural girls since 2009 but said she saw little progress on the issue. More than 600 netizens supported Han's advocacy by giving her more cases.

Chen Jinqiao, a director at the China Academy of Communication Research, said the move to put China's Two Sessions on mobile internet provided a more open, transparent, and wider platform for discussion.

This, he said, has bridged the gap between government and the public in an important political exercise. 

China has 1.24 billion mobile phone users as of 2013, more than 500 million of whom are Weibo and WeChat users.