Commentary
The Government Work Report Premier Li Keqiang delivered to the country’s top legislature last Saturday said that the government will take practical measures to guarantee and improve people’s well-being, innovate social governance, improve public services, and strive to address the issues of common concern to the people.
The report, which reviews the government’s work in 2021, says that in the face of the complex and grave domestic and international situations and numerous risks and challenges, the significant achievements made by China in economic and social development are enough to make us all proud.
For example, greater efforts have been made to strengthen the weak links in rural compulsory education. Subsidies given to the students’ nutrition support program have been raised, benefiting more than 37 million students; the maximum amount of government loans for students has been raised by 4,000 yuan per student per year, benefiting more than five million students; more common diseases and other outpatient expenses have been covered by medical insurance, with 60 percent of hospitalization expenses being settled directly across provinces.
Behind all this is the government’s effort to resolve problems people face and to improve their sense of gain, happiness and security. The report also rolls out specific goals for improving people’s livelihoods in 2022.
For example, per capita government subsidies for residents’ medical insurance and basic public health services will be increased by another 30 yuan and five yuan respectively; supporting measures for the “third-child” policy will be adopted and the expenses incurred while caring for children under the age of three will be eligible for special personal income tax deductions; more than 11 million urban jobs will be created and 100 billion yuan of unemployment insurance funds will be used to support job stability and training.
These figures and measures not only reflect the government’s work-for-the-people governance philosophy but also makes the public feel the government’s concern for people’s well-being.
The Government Work Report says that tax and fee cuts amounted to more than one trillion yuan last year, and it is estimated that tax cuts and tax rebates will reach 2.5 trillion yuan this year. These new measures are expected to further stimulate entrepreneurial vitality, create broad space for employment growth, and cultivate more talents urgently needed for high-quality development of the manufacturing sector, which will help create a virtuous cycle for China’s development.
– Beijing Youth Daily (through China Daily)
