China is set to introduce further policies to enhance people's well-being in 2025, including measures to support employment and improve grassroots healthcare services, said an official of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on Friday.
According to the data from the NDRC, over 240 billion yuan (about 33 billion U.S. dollars) of government funds has been allocated in 2024 to improve living standards and address key social needs.
To boost social employment, China built more than 400 public training centers nationwide in 2024, with more than two million people receiving vocational skills training throughout the year.
Additionally, over 2,700 work-for-relief projects aimed at providing employment were advanced across the country last year, creating jobs for more than three million people, which effectively increased employment among low-income groups in less developed areas.
To improve medical services, high-level hospitals contributed to the development of the 125 national medical centers across different regions with national support in the year.
Moreover, more than 10 billion yuan (about 1.4 billion U.S. dollars) has been allocated in 2024 to support the creation of integrated medical and health consortia at the county level, with 30,000 hospital wards, each designed for 2 to 3 patients, renovated and upgraded.
In 2025, China will continue to focus on employment support for key groups, including college graduates, veterans, and migrant workers, while also intensifying efforts to enhance grassroots medical services.
"This year, we will continue strengthening efforts to ensure and improve people's livelihood, introducing more measures to benefit the general public and enhance their sense of gain. Employment support programs, along with large-scale vocational training initiatives, will be rolled out, focusing on improving the vocational skills of groups such as college graduates, veterans, and migrant workers. We will also expand work-for-relief policies and increase the scale of labor compensation. Also, we will improve social services for elderly and child care. Healthcare services will be strengthened to ensure that more people can enjoy high-quality medical care close to their homes," said Yuan Da, deputy secretary-general of the NDRC, at a press conference in Beijing.
China to strengthen support for employment, healthcare in 2025
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
