Xinhua News Agency:

Preferential treatment certificates are a symbol of honor for all veterans. Can you give an introduction to the current certification's application and issuance process? What preferential treatment can certificate holders enjoy? What plans will be made in the future to expand current preferential treatment programs? Thank you.

Ma Feixiong:

Thank you for your questions. Preferential treatment certificates are closely connected with all the ex-service members and other entitled groups, and, as you mentioned, the certificate is a symbol of honor for all veterans. I would like to invite Mr. Cao to answer your questions.

Cao Jun:

Thank you for your questions. Last December, the MVA officially started work on the application and issuance of preferential treatment certificates. This work has attracted much attention and is one of the key tasks of the MVA. Veteran affairs departments at all levels throughout the country have actively pushed ahead with relevant work in accordance with the deployment and requirements. At present, the work on the application and issuance of preferential treatment certificates is stable and orderly. As of 9:30 p.m. on Aug. 25, a total of 8.56 million preferential treatment certificates have been issued. By the end of the year, we will make efforts to issue certificates for all existing applicants.

The preferential treatment for certificate holders mainly refers to preferential social treatment, and can be summarized in three aspects. First, equal importance has been attached to preferential treatment in both the spiritual and material levels. The issuance of the certificate is an important measure to improve the honor system of the entitled groups and highlight the praise and encouragement for the holders. At the same time, we are also constantly improving the value of the certificate to let its holder access practical preferential treatment. For instance, holders can be guaranteed preferential access to services in some areas, such as, in particular, the courtesy broadcast in passenger cabins of China United Airlines, discounts in fueling cars at petrol stations under the China National Petroleum Corporation, and in delivering mail via SF Express, among others. Second, preferential treatment at the national and local levels have been coordinated. At the national level, 20 government organs, including the MVA, have issued opinions on strengthening the work on preferential treatment, clarifying almost 100 preferential treatment services in eight aspects that can be accessed by certificate holders. The preferential treatment at the national level is mainly reflected in spiritual praise and motivation. In accordance with the unified arrangement and deployment of the state, and in combination with the local economic and social development level, local departments have also issued a list of preferential treatment categories for certificate holders. Third, preferential treatment guaranteed by the government and provided by society have been coordinated. Joint efforts from both the government and the community are needed in offering abundant preferential treatment services for the entitled groups. So far, some enterprises in finance, communications, transportation, cultural tourism, express delivery, and some other fields have provided preferential treatment services for certificate holders. We hope that more social organizations and enterprises will join the practices to provide preferential treatment.

Going forward, we will expand and improve preferential treatment programs in four aspects. First, we will expand the scope of its application. We will continue to intensify our efforts to enrich the usage of the certificate. Second, we will coordinate extensive connectivity. Local departments and institutions are encouraged to open their preferential treatment services to certificate holders across the country so that preferential treatment programs across the country can be widely connected. Third, we will build platforms. We will build unified preferential treatment service platforms to both facilitate people from all walks of life to provide preferential treatment for certificate holders and help them get a better understanding and grant them access to various kinds of preferential treatment services. Fourth, we will digitalize the certificate. We will promote efforts to digitize the preferential treatment certificate and develop digital versions to help the holders enjoy preferential treatment conveniently. We believe that with strong support from the government and the active involvement of society, the certificate will become more and more useful and easier to use. Thank you.