China will further enhance the welfare net for the elderly, disabled people and children living in difficulty due to financial problems, disabilities, abandonment, or improper family custody during the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), securing the people happier lives.

Li Changguan, minister of civil affairs, said at a news conference in Beijing on Wednesday that the ministry will keep taking active measures to deal with the aging problem to let the elderly get access to higher-quality nursing services, especially those losing mobility abilities or struggling with dementia, and seniors living in the countryside facing weaker services.

The ministry will also optimize the welfare system for children living in difficulty, children of migrant workers and left-behind children in the coming years to help ease their families' burden, and let the children not only get a better livelihood but also healthier mental health and secure personal safety.

Hu Haifeng, vice-minister of civil affairs, said at the news conference that orphanages are encouraged to admit children outside of the welfare homes, especially those living in difficulty or with disabilities.

Welfare for disabled people is also stressed by the ministry, which will channel more resources to improve the nursing services for people with severe disabilities and encourage the development of assistive products.

China's basic welfare services have achieved progress during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25). Figures from the Civil Affairs Ministry show that about 39.36 million people have been covered by the national subsistence allowance system, and 570,000 orphans and "de facto orphans", or children who need guardianship, get government support. The nation has set up about 395,000 nursing homes and facilities for the elderly during the 14th Five-Year Plan.