China will make more efforts to guarantee the basic living standards for needy residents in urban areas, according to information from a conference Tuesday.

The conference, sponsored by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, indicates that establishing a guaranteed basic living system for the poor is an important aspect of government work.

Through next year, the system will cover and assist all needy people, said the conference.

Firm supervision of the fund operation will ensure financial control.

This new system will greatly help improve social security in China, promote reform and development of state-owned enterprises, and maintain social stability, said the conference.

In September 1999, China set up a nationwide guaranteed basic living system and about 4.58 million people had been under protection of the system as of June this year.

(People’s Daily 09/19/2001)