The State Council approved an inter-ministerial joint conference system aimed at providing care and protection for “left-behind” children in rural areas.

The main function of the mechanism is to coordinate work among different government branches nationwide, formulate regulations and annual work plans, improve the assistance and protection mechanism, and to supervise the protection of left-behind children, the State Council General Office said in a reply to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, which was issued on April 5.

Headed by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the joint conference consists of delegates from 27 departments and institutions, including the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture, and the Poverty Alleviation Office.

The office will be set up at the Ministry of Civil Affairs, which will handle the routine work of the team. Li Liguo, minister of Civil Affairs, will serve as the convener of the conference.

The conference will hold one plenary session every year in principle, according to the document issued by the State Council on April 5.