The State Council approved establishing an inter-ministerial joint conference system for youth sports, according to a circular issued on Dec 22.

The system, aimed at enhancing coordination and guidance in related work and building China into a power in sports education, will be led by the General Office of the State Council, the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the General Administration of Sport of China (GASC), the circular said.

The joint conference system will be mainly responsible for helping create a better development pattern for youth sports, enhance corresponding responsibilities of governments at various levels, and address existing problems and institutional barriers.

The conference will have 15 members, including the General Office of the State Council, MOE, GASC, the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, and the National Development and Reform Commission.

They are tasked with studying how to support and promote the cause of youth sports, and laying down necessary policies and measures or proposing policy suggestions.

The post of convener will be assumed by the deputy secretary-general of the State Council in charge of education or sports, the circular said.

Meetings may be held at regular or irregular intervals as needed, or depending on suggestions by members.

An office set up at MOE will be responsible for the conference’s routine operations as well as tracking and urging implementation of matters decided at the meetings. The office will be headed by the person-in-charge of the department of physical, health and arts education under the ministry.