Rural education, culture, air quality among key issues

In the past week, a number of ministries, including the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, have responded to issues of public concern.

Rural remote areas to gain greater support for school upgrades

China will lend stronger financial support to improve education in remote rural areas, Zheng Fuzhi, assistant education minister, said during a news conference held by the State Council's information office on Friday.

He said that China will give another 13 billion yuan ($2 billion) to local governments for education. The decision was made during the State Council's executive meeting on Wednesday. He said the money will mainly be given to schools in remote and poverty-stricken areas, and another 10,000 teachers will be sent to these areas.

Efforts will be given to improve the conditions for teachers under the compulsory education system in rural areas, Zheng said.

More environmental pollution cases resolved in 2017

China handled more cases involving violations of environmental protection laws last year as a crackdown on pollution escalated, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment said.

Authorities handled 233,000 environmental pollution cases in 2017, surging 69 percent year-on-year, compared with a growth rate of 33 percent and 42 percent respectively in 2015 and 2016.

Total fines reached 11.58 billion yuan ($1.81 billion) last year, compared with just 4.25 billion yuan in 2015.

This year, the ministry said it will further strengthen law enforcement to address prominent problems in air, water and soil pollution.