China urgently needs to increase government investment in helping poor people by streamlining public expenditure, according to an official report tabled at the ongoing legislature session in Beijing Wednesday.
Civil Affairs Minister Li Liguo, entrusted by the State Council, or China’s Cabinet, made the remarks while presenting a government report on social assistance work. The report will be deliberated by lawmakers.
Greater fiscal support for social assistance is urgently needed to ensure that “people in tough circumstances can share the fruits of economic and social development,” he said.
China needs to urgently improve procedures that govern the identification of individuals qualified for receiving social assistance, in a bid to guard social equality and justice, according to Li.
The report also said it was urgent that coordination among the country’s different policy systems should be improved, aiming to guarantee that poverty-stricken group’s rights of a basic living.
Xinhua