China to boost services to improve quality of life

China will work to improve weak links in service sectors to enhance people's quality of life, according to a circular released by the General Office of the State Council on Nov 1.

The circular approved a document issued by the National Development and Reform Commission.

To provide more basic services, China will strengthen capacity building in urban-rural education, public sanitation, basic medical care, and culture and sports, increase the supply of life services, including those for children and the elderly, and promote convenient community services, the document said.

Meanwhile, efforts will be made to renovate old urban residential communities, and improve infrastructure for the elderly, children and people with disabilities.

Benchmark industrial standards will be set, and a group of high-quality local enterprises and distinctive brands will be built in elderly care, daycare, sports, and housekeeping services.

To strengthen support in human resources, the document supports enterprises to cooperate with higher education institutions and occupational schools in developing course standards and internship and training hubs.

By 2025, China aims to increase the number of undergraduates majoring in nursing, rehabilitation, housekeeping, daycare and similar services by 100,000 compared with 2020, the document said.

Meanwhile, large-scale occupational training will be offered, with a clear career path for those working in the sector.

Digital technologies will help accelerate development of life services, and work will be done to speed up online and offline integration and enhance public data openness in tourism, sports and housekeeping, with data security and personal privacy protected.

Depending on local conditions for industrial development, eastern regions should nurture emerging industrial clusters, central and western areas and northeastern regions should work on their weak links, and underdeveloped and rural areas should turn to ecotourism-related services, the document said.

Various service sectors should push ahead with mass entrepreneurship and innovation in a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment.

The document called for efforts to tap into consumption at county and township levels, and launch consumption promotion campaigns.

It also stressed improved support policies in finance, tax and investment, pricing and land use, and risk resistance of market entities.