Two Sessions Daily | Livelihood-themed press conference held, covering topics such as childcare subsidies, campus meals, and elderly care services…

Today’s Highlights:

This morning, the 14th National People’s Congress held a press conference on people’s livelihood topics. Leaders from five departments answered questions from Chinese and foreign journalists on issues related to education, civil affairs, human resources and social security, culture and tourism, health and wellness. This afternoon, the State Council Information Office held a briefing, where Vice Director Zheng Bei of the National Development and Reform Commission explained the “14th Five-Year Plan” Outline (Draft) and answered questions from reporters.

Highlights from the Livelihood-themed Press Conference:

Hui Jinpeng, Minister of Education

China’s compulsory education has reached the average level of high-income countries.

In the past two years, “Double First-Class” universities have expanded enrollment by 38,000 students.

Special campaigns will be launched to improve school meals and textbook procurement.

A comprehensive, fair, and high-quality basic education system will be built, focusing on four key tasks.

The “15-minute break” and “2 hours of daily physical activity” are now implemented in all provinces.

Extensive sports competitions in the “Three Major Ball Games” are promoted, igniting campus enthusiasm with “Class Super League” and “School Super League.”

Lu Zhiyuan, Minister of Civil Affairs

A preliminary “one network” for elderly care services covering urban and rural areas has been established.

By the end of the “14th Five-Year Plan,” efforts aim to build a three-tier elderly care service network at county, township, and village levels.

Training programs for elderly care professionals will be strengthened, and “elderly care service workers” will be included as a new profession.

The price of operating cemetery plots has decreased by 20% after regulation.

Wang Xiaoping, Minister of Human Resources and Social Security

Research measures to leverage artificial intelligence to create new jobs and empower traditional roles.

Implementing three key actions to stabilize employment, expand capacity, and improve quality.

Launching skill training programs suitable for older workers.

This year, about 12.7 million college graduates are expected.

Over 10 million people will receive subsidized vocational skills training.

Continued efforts to develop new occupations.

Sun Yeli, Minister of Culture and Tourism

By 2025 and 2026, domestic travel during the Spring Festival holidays will reach record highs in both visitor numbers and spending.

Develop and implement the “14th Five-Year Plan” for cultural and tourism development.

Zero tolerance for illegal activities such as cheating customers, overcharging, and forced shopping.

In 2025, inbound tourists are expected to spend about 80 billion yuan using mobile payments.

In 2025, the number of inbound tourists will exceed 150 million.

Work with relevant departments to continuously improve the convenience of the entire inbound tourism chain.

Lei Haichao, Director of the National Health Commission

For five consecutive years, primary healthcare institutions have seen increases in both diagnosis and treatment visits and their proportions.

Currently, 33 million families have received childcare subsidies.

By 2025, China’s average life expectancy will reach 79.25 years.

During the “14th Five-Year Plan,” about 1,000 close-knit county medical communities will be planned and built.

Over 5,500 secondary and tertiary hospitals will set up weight management clinics.

Efforts to increase early cancer screening will be intensified.

Information Office of the State Council Briefing on the “14th Five-Year Plan” Draft:

Key breakthroughs will be achieved in core technologies in key fields such as integrated circuits, industrial mother machines, high-end instruments, basic software, advanced materials, and biomanufacturing.

Construction of satellite communication, navigation, and remote sensing systems will be coordinated, with scene expansion as the driving force to develop low-altitude infrastructure.

Emerging industries like marine biomedicine will be cultivated and expanded, improving the development level of modern shipping, marine tourism, and related service industries.

The infant enrollment rate for children under 3 will increase by 6 percentage points.

By 2030, non-fossil energy will account for 25% of total energy consumption.