BEIJING, Dec. 23 -- A symposium focused on the study of a compilation of excerpts from discourses on civil affairs work by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, was held in Beijing on Tuesday.

Xi's discourses have injected strong impetus into the promotion of high-quality development of civil affairs undertakings in the new era, State Councilor Shen Yiqin said at the meeting.

Stressing that civil affairs work concerns people's livelihoods, Shen urged a focus on implementing a proactive national strategy in response to population aging, and on improving the levels of social assistance, social welfare, social affairs management and social governance.