Education, health fees among key concerns

China to legislate on preschool education

China will push for legislation on preschool education to provide a legal guarantee for the operation and management of such institutions, Vice-minister of Education Tian Xuejun said on Nov 30.

Tian made the remarks at a news conference organized by the State Council Information Office regarding a child abuse case at RYB Education New World Kindergarten in Beijing that received widespread attention in November. He said the Ministry of Education was already doing research on the legislation.

"The ministry will also complete the requirements on qualifications of teachers engaged in preschool education and is considering formulating a code of ethics for them," Tian said.

He also said a plan is on the way to step up supervision of kindergartens and solve the problem of insufficient resources for preschool education. Tian said the case exposed the conflict between public demand for preschool enrollment and insufficient development of preschool education.

"It also showed that some local authorities and kindergartens still have problems of unsound management and failure to implement or fully implement regulations," he said.

Rural health fee increase explained in detail

The National Health and Family Planning Commission recently responded to public concern of newly increased fees for a new rural cooperative medical system.

Fees charged in the new rural cooperative medical system have recently been raised from 30 yuan ($5.5) to 180 yuan.

The NHFPC explained that while fees for individuals have been raised, government financial subsidies to individuals have also been raised accordingly in recent years from the previous 20 yuan per person to 450 per person. At the same time, the government has a comprehensive medical assistance system for those unable to afford such fees. Also, the reimbursement proportion for hospitalization costs for those in the new rural cooperative medical system has also been raised from 35 percent to 75 percent.

Anti-espionage law will help national security

The State Council issued a circular on China's anti-espionage law on Wednesday with detailed rules for implementing the law.

The circular explains several terms in the law, including overseas institutions and organizations, individuals, spy organizations, spy organization agents and hostile organizations. It was made clear that national security departments under the State Council will identify unacceptable behavior.

According to the circular, providing funds, venues and materials to spy organizations and individuals will be identified as helping them.

Conducting espionage activities in the territory, accepting overseas funds to endanger national security or connect them for spying activities will also be deemed as collusion.

Staff members at national safety departments are authorized to arrest and hunt criminal suspects, and their anti-espionage activities will not be interrupted by any other illegal actions.

It said that Chinese people and organizations retain the right and privilege to secure national safety, and their contributions such as providing clues about spying activities, collaborating with national security departments and fighting espionage activities will also be rewarded.