China will diversify and expand non-basic public services with wide coverage while continuing to ensure equal access to basic public services from 2021 to 2025, the State Council said in an official reply released on Nov 30.

In the reply, a plan from the National Development and Reform Commission for public services during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) was approved.

It stressed a scientific and reasonable scope for basic and non-basic public services, with proper relationship between the government and market.

A wider variety of services should safeguard people’s basic livelihoods and deliver them a greater sense of gain, happiness and security.

Provincial-level governments should build the public service system as a key task for local economic and social development during the five-year period, it said.

They were also asked to conduct prudent research before increasing public services and raising service standards to make them bearable financially and sustainable.

The NDRC, along with related departments, should work to improve the basic public service standard system and establish an inter-ministerial conference system, enhance coordination for important issues among regions, fields and departments, and track implementation of the plan, the reply added.