China is intensifying its endeavors to further safeguard and improve people's well-being, and resolutely address the most pressing concerns of its citizens, said a senior official with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country's top economic planner, on Tuesday.
Central authorities recently unveiled a set of guidelines targeting the most immediate and tangible issues affecting people's livelihood.
Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, Xiao Weiming, deputy secretary general of the NDRC, highlighted the need for further progress as the country advances Chinese modernization, so as to ensure development benefits to reach all people more fairly.
According to the official document, China will expand social security coverage, with particular support for low-income populations, and ensure that all citizens, regardless of region or group, can enjoy equal access to basic public services.
Xiao said the guidelines put fairness first in policies affecting people's livelihood, highlighted greater fairness in social guarantee, and presented policy measures to effectively expand access to basic public services and provide more assistance to low-income groups.
"All people from both urban and rural areas, in different regions, and of different groups can enjoy equal access to basic public services. Highlighting balance of basic public services, the guidelines introduced measures to improve the quality and efficiency of basic public services and to provide services to people in places where they permanently reside," he said.
"Addressing people's pressing concerns in terms of education, medical care, elderly care and childcare, the guidelines stressed inclusiveness of more basic services for people's well-being, introducing policy measures to promote education resources upgrading, quality medical resources sharing and the development of inclusive elderly care and childcare services," he said.
The guidelines emphasized the accessibility of diversified social services and presented policy measures to provide community services at the people's doorstep, improve the quality of the diversified services and promote inclusive and sharing development, according to Xiao.
In the next step, the NDRC will work with relevant departments to implement the guidelines, so that the general public can see the changes and gain the benefits, Xiao continued.
China steps up efforts to boost public welfare, address key social needs
The U.S. military strike against Venezuela and capture of its president, Nicolas Maduro, has shocked the international community, triggering a steady stream of condemnation and serious concerns worldwide.
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Spain issued a joint statement on Sunday, expressing serious concern about and firm opposition to the U.S. unilateral military operations in Venezuela.
The U.S. actions contravene fundamental principles of international law, particularly the prohibition on the use or threat of force, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, as enshrined in the UN Charter, constituting an extremely dangerous precedent against peace and regional security, according to the statement.
In expressing profound concern and firm rejection, the six countries stressed in the statement that the situation in Venezuela must be resolved exclusively by peaceful means, and through dialogue, negotiation and respect for the will of the Venezuelan people in all its expressions, without external interference and in accordance with international law.
Only an inclusive political process, led by Venezuelans, can lead to a democratic, sustainable solution that respects human dignity, according to the statement.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the U.S. raid in Venezuela as a violation of international law, adding that the Spanish government always advocates and defends international law and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
Addressing a meeting of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez demanded the unconditional and immediate release of Maduro and his wife.
Noting that Latin America and the Caribbean are a zone of peace, he expressed his firm opposition to the use of force, which is an unshakable principle.
Any aggression against Venezuela shall be regarded as an attack against all CELAC member states, and nations must collectively oppose it, he stressed.
The South African government denounced the U.S. attack on Venezuela as a violation of international law, according to a statement released on Sunday.
History has repeatedly demonstrated that military invasions against sovereign states yield only instability and deepening crisis, the statement said.
South Africa calls on the UN Security Council to urgently convene a session to address this situation, according to the statement.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said what happened in Venezuela demonstrates that international law and the UN Charter are losing their practical effectiveness.
U.S. military action against Venezuela marks a dangerous precedent, as similar actions could be taken against any other nations, he said.
In addition, the foreign ministries of Namibia, Singapore, Oman and Pakistan also issued statements on the same day, expressing grave concern over U.S. interference in Venezuela's internal affairs.
They emphasized the need to uphold international law and the principles of the UN Charter while respecting Venezuela's sovereignty.
They also called on all parties to exercise restraint and resolve the crisis through peaceful dialogue.
U.S. move against Venezuela sparks condemnation, concerns worldwide
