In recent years, China has adopted a series of preferential treatment and supporting policies for veterans in job placement and business startups, according to a press conference in Beijing on Friday.

The Ministry of Veteran Affairs (MVA), along with several related government departments, has issued preferential policy documents to encourage ex-service personnel to start up businesses in economic development zones and work for rural revitalization, said Yu Jingsen, director general of the Employment and Entrepreneurship Department of the MVA.

Yu Jingsen, director general of the Department of Employment and Entrepreneurship of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, attends a press conference held by the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in Beijing on Aug. 26, 2022. [Photo by Liu Jian/China SCIO]

Over 400,000 retired military personnel have returned to their hometowns and started businesses there, Yu said. "Some have become successful entrepreneurs and are able to help and lead others out of poverty."

To help veterans land satisfactory jobs, the MVA has signed agreements with 13,000 companies to offer over 1 million jobs to retired soldiers. The ministry has also worked with companies and organizations in sectors such as education and public security to provide employment opportunities for veterans.

According to statistics, the country's emergency response and fire control departments employ an annual average of 3,000 to 4,000 ex-service personnel, and over 3,000 veterans work as seafarers every year.

Yu said the MVA will step up education and professional training for veterans, explore new policy measures to support them in starting up businesses, and expand new job and business opportunities after they leave the military.