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China to expand rural access to urban welfare benefits in push for economic growth
- More than a dozen government agencies vow to make it easier for migrants in cities to tap into public services, such as healthcare
- Authorities hope the process will boost economic activity as the country grapples with a shrinking population and the fallout from the coronavirus
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Frank Tangin Beijing
The Chinese government is redoubling efforts to help rural people moving to cities tap into welfare services as it presses on with a poverty alleviation drive and tries to shore up economic growth against demographic headwinds.
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In a notice on Saturday, 19 government departments, including the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the Ministry of Finance and the People’s Bank of China, pledged to improve conditions in resettlement areas, create job opportunities and give more people access to urban welfare benefits.
“We’ll make it easier for [rural] people to receive an urban hukou,” the notice said, referring to a household registration document that determines where a person can access public welfare services such as healthcare and education.
“Residence permits will be promoted to ensure people have equal access to public services in cities, while their legitimate interests in home villages will be protected.”
02:14
Chinese reluctant to have children as China reports first population fall in 61 years
Chinese reluctant to have children as China reports first population fall in 61 years
The notice also said job prospects and living conditions would be improved in small and medium-sized cities to encourage relocation.
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