People over 80 years old in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region will get monthly basic living subsides and annual free medical checks starting July, local authorities said Thursday.

Seniors between the ages of 80 and 90 will get a monthly subsidy of 50 yuan (7.7 U.S. dollars), those between 90 and 100 years old will get 120 yuan, and those over 100 years old will get 200 yuan, said Zhou Junlin, deputy director of the Xinjiang Civil Affairs Department, at a press conference.

Everyone over 80 years old in the region will get a free medical check every year, Zhou said.

"The new policy is part of the regional government's key programs this year to improve the well-being of local residents," he said.

Some 214 million yuan will be earmarked for the new policy every year, which will benefit about 280,000 seniors citizens, or 1.28 percent of the region's total population, he said.

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