BEIJING - Chinese Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu Friday called for a tougher crackdown on the swindling and selling of minors and the manipulating of street kids to conduct crimes.

Addressing a national conference on better relief and protection for stray minors, he called on authorities and the whole society to make concerted efforts to offer timely help to street children.

Such a move concerns not only the safeguarding of minors' legitimate rights and interests but also the promotion of social harmony, Hui said.

He said different government agencies should better coordinate their efforts to offer regular services in helping and protecting street kids.

In addition, more efforts should be made to educate saved street children and bring them back to their families, according to the vice premier.

As a long-term strategy, Hui said more guidance and help should be offered to facilitate the children being taking care of by their own families.

Meanwhile, policies on free compulsory education, social security and poverty-reduction should be well implemented to help get saved street children's lives back in order, Hui added.