The Songmen model was soon taken up elsewhere: after 2001 several towns started holding roundtables to consult on important issues. In 2004 Wenling City confirmed the democratic roundtable as an essential decision-making process for town/township governments under its jurisdiction.

    At the end of 2004, Li Fan, director of the World and China Institute, came to Wenling for research purposes and suggested its government combine the democratic roundtable with its annual budget review. Chen was enthusiastic: "The annual budget review is one of the most important public policies, one that has impacts on everyone. Reviewing the draft budget is one of key functions of the town/township people's congress. The roundtable increases the influence of local legislatures on budget decisions, and this would invigorate the supervisory function of the people's congress." In 2005 the Wenling public budget reform was formally launched in Xinhe Town.

    Over the last six years, the roundtable involvement in budget review has been accepted by most people in Xinhe. "The roundtable has drawn government and people closer," said Mo Hailiang. "And if the government takes our advice on spending money, what's to stop us discussing anything?" For example, in 2008, deputies from one electoral district made a mass walkout from the Xinhe Town People's Congress meeting since the presidium did not submit their amendment to the plenum. "Democratic awareness has grown quickly in these years," said Chen.

    Despite his excitement, Chen sees much room for improvement. "Right now, supervision of budget implementation is not fully in place. And grassroots deputies have limited knowledge of public budgeting, of how to review, how to draft and propose motions, how to negotiate amendments, how to communicate, and so on…But if we stick to the system, it will get better and better."

    Will the system continue in Wenling? Chen is very confident of its future: "The people of Wenling have got used to the democratic roundtable and the financial budget review. Should some leaders want to drop it now, the people would not agree. And they are the most robust force."