Today (March 7), the press center for the fourth session of the 14th NPC holds a news conference on the people's livelihood in Beijing.
Senior high school gross enrollment ratio reached 92% in 2025, up 7 percentage points from 2012, according to Education Minister Huai Jinpeng.
Huai also announced stricter measures to address educational misconduct, such as excessive tutoring and school bullying, as part of ongoing efforts to ensure a safe campus environment for students.
Over the past two years, China's top universities have expanded enrollment by 38,000 students. Meanwhile, more than 540 new cooperative institutions and programs at the undergraduate level and above have been launched between the Chinese mainland and other countries and regions. Sports like soccer, basketball, and volleyball will be actively promoted in schools, with class- and school-level leagues aimed at boosting campus vitality, Huai added.
Civil Affairs Minister Lu Zhiyuan reported that 1.72 billion yuan (about US$249 million) in care subsidies have been distributed to nearly 900,000 elderly individuals with disabilities so far this year.
Also, Lei Haichao, head of the National Health Commission, announced accelerated efforts to raise the national average life expectancy to 80 years by 2030, and called for greater public vigilance on cancer prevention, urging citizens to adopt healthier lifestyles and undergo regular screenings, as early detection remains critical. I call this "'live long and prosper' in real life."
To emphasize the importance of soft power, Minister of Culture and Tourism Sun Yeli emphasized plans to better showcase China's natural beauty, cultural heritage, historical depth, and modern dynamism to global audiences.
The series of policy announcements from Chinese ministers outlines a comprehensive and forward-looking national strategy aimed at securing long-term social stability and human capital development. By addressing education, healthcare, welfare, and culture in a single narrative, the government is signaling a coordinated approach to managing the country's complex demographic and social transitions.
However, the key challenge remains execution—turning these targets into tangible improvements in people's daily lives, particularly in narrowing regional disparities and ensuring sustainable implementation.
Tomorrow, we'll have a press conference on diplomacy. Attention, foreign policy enthusiasts!
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