China Veterans:
As we are all aware, the CPC and the government hold deep concern for veterans and have provided them with special care and support. However, some individuals still face difficulties. What work has the MVA done in assisting veterans in need, and what arrangements will be made in the next step? Thank you.
Ma Feixiong:
As we all know, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the need to care for veterans, who have made contributions to protecting our country. Now, some among them have encountered difficulties such as serious illness, domestic misfortune, and unemployment, and are currently facing the most difficult time of their lives and are in most need of help. Our country has a large population and weak foundations for development. This makes it financially difficult to take very good care of veterans. But still, we should prioritize their basic livelihoods and employment. Based on this understanding, we have mobilized the whole system to take practical steps and solve their problems with our heart and soul. Our work has focused on several aspects:
First, we conducted a thorough assessment, registered veterans in need and made regular visits to offer support. In the first half of this year alone, more than 2 billion yuan was invested across the country, and 7.49 million visits were made to help veterans in need.
Second, we made full use of existing policies, and earnestly ensured that basic living needs were met. For laid-off and unemployed veterans, we made sure they caught up on payment of basic pension insurance and medical insurance, benefiting more than 2.85 million veterans. For veterans having difficulty finding employment, we arranged training, built platforms, secured special posts for them and helped more than 2 million veterans find jobs. For those veterans facing difficulty in accessing medical services, we established a comprehensive support mechanism involving insurance, subsidies, assistance and preferential treatment.
Third, we mobilized social forces, including the China Veterans Support Foundation, and encouraged the society to care for and help veterans. We continued to carry out a program with the aim to warm their hearts by providing surgeries for veterans with cataracts and assistance to those with other diseases, especially hearing aids for those with hearing impairments. We also provided medical assistance to the children of veterans with congenital heart diseases. To prevent certain veterans' children from dropping out of school, we provided such help as student grants.
The difficulties faced by veterans have always been our greatest concern and utmost care. Next, our focus will be on speeding up, expanding coverage, and maintaining sustained efforts. Speeding up refers to simplifying approval processes, reducing turnaround time, and ensuring timely assistance for veterans in need. Expanding coverage involves integrating resources from various sectors and mobilizing forces from all sides, enabling more veterans in need to benefit from a wider range of programs and higher standards of support. Sustained efforts involve exploring the establishment of institutionalized and standardized funding source mechanisms to ensure a more secure guarantee for assistance and relief work for veterans. Thank you.
