BEIJING —The government will not reduce financial assistance to needy people but keep itincreasing, said Minister of Civil Affairs Huang Shuxian at a national civilaffairs conference that closed on April 3.

The priority inthe near future is to increase the civil affairs service at the primary leveland increase personnel at county, township and village levels, Huang said atthe two-day meeting.

China hasallocated more than 840 billion yuan (about $125 billion) from the centralbudget for minimum living allowances, medical aid and financial assistance topeople in special difficulties, and for emergency aid from 2013 to 2018,according the ministry.

The standardminimum living allowance in urban areas increased by 9.2 percent annually from2013 to 2018, and 14.7 percent for rural areas.

SOURCE:https://appen.media.gov.cn/engovdata/goven/201904/04/455844/article.html