BEIJING-- China plans to establish a nationwide welfare network for disabled children and orphans in all its major cities by 2010, the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs said here Thursday.

The government will invest 2.35 billion yuan (about US$301 million) by 2010 to build child welfare institutions able to provide child rearing, health recovery, special needs education, skill training and community support services.

"The network will play a key role in safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of minors and help keep society stable," said an official with the ministry who declined to be named.

China has around 600 child welfare institutions which take care of 54,000 orphans and foundlings as well as 130 aid centers which provide temporary help for more than 100,000 waifs and strays annually.

"We will add 35,000 beds to these centers by 2010. This will enable them to cover an area six times larger than now," said the official.