CHINA / National |
China to pour more funds into rural area(Shanghai Daily)Updated: 2007-03-09 13:44 China will drastically increase its spending in education, medical care system and social security system in its rural area this year, China's Finance Minister Jin Renqing said today in Beijing. China this year plans to spend 223.5 billion yuan (US$28.88 billion) so about 150 million rural children can enjoy a nine-year compulsory education without paying incidental fees, Jin said at a press conference. Besides, at least 80 percent of rural residents will enjoy a new type of rural cooperative medical care system this year, and the country will set up a basic minimum cost of living allowance system in rural areas in the period to benefit 30 million citizens, Jin said. The country will also help farmers create a better living condition, including building roads, supplying power and water, broadcasting TV programs and offering fuels, Jin said. The government will spend 391.7 billion yuan on agriculture, rural areas and farmers this year, 52 billion more than a year earlier. "Rural residents will have the same public services as urban residents after the country resolves these living problems," Jin said. "The service for rural residents isn't sufficient now." |
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