China's Ministry of Civil Affairs says the country will provide guidance for social organizations on poverty relief work. It also plans to completely open the elderly care service industry to the private sector. Wu Guoxiu has more from the State Information Office's press conference in Beijing on Thursday.

China is immersed in the fight against poverty, with less than two years to reach its goal of lifting all people out of poverty by 2020. The Ministry of Civil Affairs is one of the major government organs handling the issue. It says basic needs allowance standards for urban residents increased by 9.4 percent last year, and just under 15 percent for rural residents. Authorities invested 230 billion yuan in poverty relief last year. Now they are also seeking other sources of support, like from social organizations.

GAO XIAOBING, VICE MINISTER MINISTRY OF CIVIL AFFAIRS "By 2017, there were 760 thousand registered social organizations in China. Charity groups played an important role in poverty alleviation. They received donations worth over 50 billion yuan last year, greatly supplementing government efforts. We will guide them on poverty alleviation through developing industries, promoting education and health, and helping with relocation."

Regarding elderly care, the Ministry checked and regulated all 417-thousand senior homes in the country. Private senior homes increased by 7.8 percent compared with the previous year. But the number of places available is still short of demand.

HUANG SHUXIAN, MINISTER MINISTRY OF CIVIL AFFAIRS "We'll continue to reform the elderly care industry and completely open up the market, to meet the needs of an elderly society."

From left-behind children to elderly care, from poverty to disaster relief, the Ministry vows to "truly enhance people's sense of fulfilment". Wu Guoxiu, CGTN, Beijing.