China to take targeted measures to improve people's well-being

BEIJING -- China will take targeted measures to address problems to improve the public's overall well-being in 2018, said a statement issued after the annual Central Economic Work Conference concluded Wednesday.

The problems are related to childhood education, employment, pension insurance, medical treatment and online scams, according to the statement.

Prominent problems in education should be dealt with, such as heavy extracurricular burdens for primary and middle school students, "school-choosing fever" among parents and overcrowded classes in some schools.

Problems related to infant care and childhood education should also be solved properly.

The government will give particular attention to tackling structural unemployment and workplace discrimination based on gender and identity.

The country will also reform and improve the basic pension schemes for urban employees and for rural and non-working urban residents, and quickly bring pension schemes under national unified management.

As it is difficult and expensive to see a doctor in China, the government should continue its efforts to solve the problem.

Private sector capital is encouraged to invest in healthcare and elder care.

The regulators should spare no effort to solve prominent problems like online scams and selling personal information.

The government must focus on solving problems in improving people's well-being, do its best to identify the crux of problems and take steps wisely, said the statement.

The three-day conference outlined the country's economic work for 2018.