Social assistance should be reformed and developed to better serve people’s basic needs, State Councilor Wang Yong said at a symposium in Beijing on May 9.

Wang said that social assistance is an important policy. The framework of social assistance system was established recently, with a much improved working mechanism and a regulated administration, thus guaranteeing basic needs of people in difficulties, he said.

The assistance parameters should be based on scientific studies and urban and rural development should be promoted in a balanced way, Wang said.

He also said that temporary assistance system should be carried out soon and medical assistance for serious diseases should be promoted.

More investment should be provided and social power should be encouraged to provide strong support to build a better society, he said.