China will improve social welfare enjoyed by the country's economically-challenged population especially in the rural areas, a top official said on Thursday.

Li Xueju, Minister of Civil Affairs said during a national work conference that the rural minimum living allowance system must be perfected with larger subsidies from the central and provincial budget, to cover all applicable with improved benefits.

According to Li, about 39 million farmers, or 4.4 percent of China's rural population, receive the monthly subsidy handed out by local governments for lack of sources of income and working abilities.

But the rural minimum living allowance system had not yet covered all economically-challenged farmers in the rural areas, Li noted.

He urged local authorities to offer financial support for poor families during the coming Spring Festival season to ensure they could spent a "warm winter".

Living standards of those who receive five guarantees, namely food, clothing, medical care, housing and burial expenses provided by local governments for their lack of relatives and working abilities, should be in accordance with the average living standards of the neighborhood, Li said.

He also demanded to set up a national minimum allowance standard for the country's 600,000 orphans in the rural areas, and to provide shelter and medical assistance to all orphans, elders with no children and disabled people with no relatives in the country.

China has more than 150 million people aged over 60, along with a handicapped population of 83 million, Li said.

The Civil Ministry should strive to let these people "enjoy the fruit of China's reform and opening-up drive," he said.

In addition, Li also said China will increase allowance and subsidies for the country's retired or disabled servicemen, and family members of the deceased soldiers.

(Xinhua News Agency December 26, 2008)