There are still 26.1 million rural residents living in absolute poverty in China, 49.77 million with low income and over 22 million urban residents covered by subsistence allowances, Li Xuju, Chinese Minister of Civil Affairs revealed at a national working conference.

Li said China will ensure establishment of basic framework of the social assistance system for the destitute living in extreme poverty in urban and rural areas in 90 percent of provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) and 70 percent of counties by the end of this year.

In addition, China will raise subsidy standards for people under key assistance. The central finance has earmarked 7.46 billion yuan this year as subsidy, an increase of 3.53 billion yuan year-on-year.

According to Li Xueju, in the first half of the year, China has allocated 1.84 billion yuan as spring famine relief funds, which helped 45.52 million disaster-stricken people. At the starting phase, China's charity cause has many problems such as charity organizations not enough, laws and regulations on charity yet to be improved and people's weak charity awareness.

By People's Daily Online