China reports significant progress in child welfare provision

China has significantly improved its child welfare system through the inclusion of de facto orphans, left-behind children and migrant children in national protection policies, a senior official said on Friday.

Lu Zhiyuan, minister of civil affairs, told a news conference that basic living standards for non-institutionalized orphans and de facto orphans have risen by 32 percent and 31 percent respectively since 2020.

"While basic needs are being met, there is an increasing focus on supervision, emotional care and mental health," Lu said.

Healthcare initiatives include subsidized healthcare for orphans and enhanced rehabilitation services for children who are living with a disability. Efforts are also underway to ensure equal opportunities for migrant children and promote inclusive education for children living with disabilities, Lu added.

Across China, 42,000 township-level child supervisors and 583,000 village-level child directors conduct regular home visits, verify information and provide care services to protect vulnerable children, he added.