More investment for social undertakings

China is deepening its commitment to human-centric development by significantly increasing investment in social well-being, officials said on Tuesday, as the country seeks to tackle pressing issues faced by the public and ensure more equitable access to basic social services.

Xiao Weiming, deputy secretary-general of the National Development and Reform Commission, said the share of central budget investment in social undertakings has continued to increase.

"This year, the investment scale is expected to be more than 30 percent higher than at the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) period."

Xiao emphasized a dual-track approach of infrastructure and policy to deliver stronger livelihood outcomes. He noted that while organizing the implementation of "hard" investment projects, the country has also accelerated the introduction of supportive "soft" measures, or institutional arrangements and policy plans.

"By improving the policy-project synergy, we aim to use investment to drive institutional changes, effectively address the weak links, expand domestic demand, and fully deliver benefits to the people," Xiao said at a news conference held in Beijing on Tuesday.

His remarks came as China on Monday released a guideline aimed at further safeguarding and improving people's livelihoods, vowing to resolve the most pressing issues facing the public and make basic social services more equitable, inclusive, and accessible.

To better implement the guideline, Xiao said the country will actively promote the introduction of major supportive policies.

The NDRC is laying the groundwork for a comprehensive inclusion of people-focused policies in the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30).

"Based on extensive research, we will work with stakeholders to formulate major strategic tasks, key policy initiatives, and significant projects in the area of people's livelihoods and incorporate them into the national development plan," Xiao said.

A central component of this push is the expansion and equalization of basic public services, such as education, healthcare, and social insurance.

Xiao noted that progress has been made during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, but the next decade will be a "critical period to further advance the equalization of basic public services".

The NDRC will focus on improving service standards, narrowing regional disparities, and ensuring that migrant populations are fairly covered. "Equalization will be pursued in three ways: enhancing the institutional framework, balancing resource allocation, and clarifying the responsibilities of local governments," Xiao said.

"We have over 130 million migrant workers living in urban areas. Their top concern is access to education, social insurance, and housing for their families in the cities where they reside," Xiao said. "We will push forward the system of providing basic public services based on place of residence, especially in cities with large inflows of people, ensuring they enjoy the same rights as registered urban residents."

The Ministry of Civil Affairs is taking steps to improve social safety nets for vulnerable groups. "Strengthening assistance for low-income groups is vital for safeguarding basic livelihoods and addressing urgent needs of the people," said Zhang Wei, an official with the Department of Social Assistance at the Ministry of Civil Affairs.