With a challenging 2009 ahead, government thrift, public welfare and economic growth have become key words on the agendas of China's local authorities.

At the annual provincial legislative sessions being held across the country, officials have vowed to cut administrative expenditure and invest more in public welfare projects to ensure economic growth.

In Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, a public welfare draft plan was submitted for discussion to the regional People's Congress annual session which opened on Wednesday.

"It is the first time a specific public welfare plan has been submitted and reviewed at a provincial legislature in our country," said Ma Ruiwen, deputy chairman of the standing committee of the regional congress.

Public welfare, or minsheng in Chinese, usually refers to general living conditions, including housing, education, health care and care for the elderly.

Responding to the global economic slowdown, the central government announced in November a 4-trillion-yuan (US$585 billion) stimulus package that included 280 billion yuan for affordable housing schemes, 370 billion yuan for improving rural living standards and infrastructure and 40 billion yuan for health and education programs.

Ningxia's draft, formulated after soliciting public opinion, has measures such as helping 380,000 people gain access to safe drinking water and subsidies or low-rent housing for 30,000 urban low-income families.

"The draft reflects the government's promise of putting people's interests first and caring for their basic well-being," said Ma.

Ningxia's 2009 draft budget allocates 2.64 billion yuan for employment, education, housing and health. Other provincial governments have also made it a priority to invest tens of billions of yuan in public welfare.

The eastern Anhui Province will expand its number of public welfare programs from 18 to 28, said Governor Wang Sanyun.

In the face of the difficult economic situation and a downturn in revenue many provincial authorities have set a goal of "zero growth" in administrative spending.

(Xinhua News Agency January 16, 2009)