New services for disabled

China is targeting the establishment of universal aid and rehabilitation services for disabled children, aged 6 or younger, by 2025, according to a guideline released on July 10. Starting from Oct 1, a rehabilitation system will be put in place that covers all such children, and funds will be provided by local governments above county level, with subsidies from the central government, according to the guideline released by the State Council.

The goal is to meet demand for basic rehabilitation services for disabled children, especially those with impaired eyesight, hearing, speaking abilities, as well as those with autism, it said.

County-level governments can decide on the basic service items, including operations, assistance devices and rehabilitation. Guardians of disabled children can apply for assistance at disabled persons’ federations in the area of their household registration, or in the area where they have obtained a residential permit. They can also entitle other people, social organizations or agencies to file on their behalf.

Their requests will be verified and approved by county-level governments together with disabled persons’ federations at county levels. There are 1.67 million children age 6 or younger with disabilities, with about 7,000 rehabilitation institutions nationwide, according to the China Disabled Persons’ Federation.

Imports set to be expanded

China will further expand imports, according to a notice released on July 9.

The notice, jointly released by 20 central government departments, stipulates that the country will take the initiative to expand imports as efforts are made to stabilize exports to meet the public demand for consumption upgrading.

Imports of products that are closely related to people’s lives, such as goods for everyday consumption, drugs, equipment for rehabilitation and elderly care, will be expanded. Measures that lower import tax rates for some products will be implemented. Policies involving duty-free shops will be refined, and imports of duty-free products will be expanded, according to the guideline. The country will boost cooperation with countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, set up free trade zones and continue to offer preferential tariff policies to the least developed countries, it said.

The development of trade in services will also be accelerated, with measures to be rolled out to encourage imports of construction design, commercial logistics, consultation, research and design, energy conservation and environmental protection. The import of technologies, equipment and parts that will help industry upgrading and transformation will be encouraged. There will be a moderate increase in agricultural products that are in short supply domestically, as well as means of production and machinery that will help increase the competitiveness of the agricultural sector, the notice said.

Steps to boost economy

China will improve the management of State-owned financial capital to better serve the real economy, guard against financial risks and deepen financial reform, according to a guideline released on July 8.

The goal is to optimize the strategic layout of State-owned financial capital, enhance the vitality and control of State-owned financial institutions, and preserve or increase the value of State-owned financial capital, said the guideline, issued jointly by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council.

The guideline provides specific requirements on improving the management of State-owned financial capital, including improving the administrative system, laws and regulations of State-owned financial capital, strengthening the CPC leadership over State-owned financial institutions and enhancing supervision of State-owned financial capital. The proportion of State-owned financial capital in banks, insurance and the securities sectors will be properly adjusted to increase the efficiency of capital allocation, the guideline said.

The Ministry of Finance will be in charge of making of regulations regarding State-owned financial capital, and financial departments at various levels will assume the responsibility to manage State-owned financial capital.

The prevention of losses involving State-own financial capital is also prioritized as the guideline called for strengthening of oversight, real-time monitoring of operations as well as audits and evaluations.