China guides social sector on poverty alleviation

China's Ministry of Civil Affairs said in a press conference on Thursday that the country would guide social organizations on poverty relief work.

It also plans to open the elderly care service industry to the private sector completely.

China is involved in the fight against poverty and has a goal curbing poverty by 2020. The Ministry of Civil Affairs is one of the major government organizations handling the issue. It said that basic needs allowance for urban residents increased by 9.4 percent last year and just under 15 percent for rural residents. Authorities invested 230 billion yuan in poverty relief last year. Now they are also seeking other sources of support, like from social organizations.

Gao Xiaobing, Vice Minister of Civil Affairs said that by 2017, there were 760 thousand registered social organizations in China. Charity groups played an important role in poverty alleviation. They received donations worth over 50 billion yuan last year, substantially supplementing government efforts.

"We will guide them on poverty alleviation through developing industries, promoting education and health, and helping with relocation," she said.

Regarding elderly care, the ministry monitored and regulated all 417 thousand senior homes in the country. Private senior homes increased by 7.8 percent compared with the previous year. But places available are still short of demand.

"We will continue to reform the elderly care industry and completely open up the market, to meet the needs of an elderly society," noted Huang Shuxian, the Civil Affairs Minister.

From left-behind children to elderly care, from poverty to disaster relief, the ministry vowed to "truly enhance people's sense of fulfillment."