National Business Daily:

We know that Tianjin is a mega-city with a population of over 13 million people, and its residents are deeply concerned about various aspects of life such as employment, elderly care, education and healthcare. Could you please tell us about any new measures Tianjin has taken to ensure residents' well-being and to improve their quality of life? Thank you.

Zhang Gong:

This is a very good question. Ensuring residents' well-being and improving their lives are of paramount importance in the development of a mega-city. The ultimate goal of economic and urban development is to bring about a better life for residents. We will focus policies on the areas of people's livelihoods, extend services to cover all aspects of daily life and allocate resources toward improving quality of life. We will make concerted efforts to address practical issues directly related to people's lives, continuously meeting the new demands of residents.

In the fields of education and healthcare, our focus is on promoting balanced development. In education, we will further implement the project of radiating and leading high-quality educational resources in basic education. We will continue to expand the coverage of high-quality educational resources with plans to build, expand and renovate 12 compulsory education schools this year, adding 20,000 new student positions. In healthcare, we will accelerate the establishment of national medical centers at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Blood Disease Hospital and the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine . We will accelerate the construction of the Tianjin Hospital of Peking Union Medical College Hospital Phase II project and renovation projects, such as the Tianjin Huanhu Hospital . This year, we aim to complete the third phase of the Municipal People's Hospital, allowing the public to access more high-quality, efficient and affordable medical and health services.

In terms of "elderly care and child care," our focus is on strengthening service guarantees. Regarding the elderly, we will further develop the "Tianjin Elderly Care" service brand, expand care and in-home services for seven categories of particularly disadvantaged elderly individuals and continue to enhance meal assistance for the elderly to ensure they receive increased care and support. In terms of child care, we will persist in implementing the Child Health Enhancement Plan, intensifying monitoring and prevention efforts against childhood myopia, obesity and mental health issues. Furthermore, we will improve meal management in schools and reinforce comprehensive governance around school premises.  

In terms of social security, our focus is on safeguarding the bottom line of people's livelihoods. Regarding employment, we will explore and expand job opportunities, support flexible employment and provide assistance to those facing difficulties in finding work. In terms of medical insurance, this year we will raise the maximum reimbursement limit for outpatient and emergency services by an additional 1,000 yuan. Concerning housing, this year we aim to secure 5,000 units of affordable rental housing and construct 2,000 units of affordable housing for sale. This approach aims to gradually alleviate housing difficulties for new residents, young people and other vulnerable groups within the city.

In the field of urban renewal, our primary focus lies in elevating functional quality. We are directing our efforts towards upgrading business formats, enhancing functionalities and improving overall quality. This involves a concerted effort to enhance urban amenities and service capabilities. We have undertaken seven urban renewal projects alongside a batch of initiatives aimed at transforming urban villages. Moreover, we have initiated renovations and upgrades for 275 aging residential neighborhoods and are actively constructing embedded service facilities within urban communities. This year, we plan to install an additional 10,000 charging stations, facilitating the usage of electric and new energy vehicles. We aim to complete three rail lines, including the first phase of the west section of Metro Line 11, and to accelerate the transformation of Jinbin light railway . In line with resilient and secure city construction, we will thoroughly implement fundamental safety production measures, carrying out renovations of outdated gas, heating and water supply pipelines in an orderly manner by region and year. This year, we will renovate 623 kilometers of gas pipeline networks, 150 kilometers of heating pipeline networks and 30 kilometers of water supply pipeline networks. Additionally, we will harness technology to empower urban operations, thus bolstering intelligent supervision and enhancing the intrinsic safety level of the city. 

In short, we will diligently implement the 20 people-oriented projects that were established at the beginning of the year, aligning closely with the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee. Through these endeavors, we aspire to deliver tangible benefits to the residents of Tianjin. Thank you, everyone!

Chen Wenjun:

Thank you to Mr. Zhang and the other speakers. Thank you to all the journalists for your participation. Today's conference will end here. Goodbye!

Translated and edited by Xu Xiaoxuan, Wang Qian, Liu Jianing, Zhou Jing, Li Xiao, Wang Yanfang, Mi Xingang, Zhang Junmian, Xiang Bin, Yuan Fang, Liu Caiyi, Li Huiru, Wang Ziteng, Qin Qi, Zhang Rui, David Ball, Rochelle Beiersdorfer, and Jay Birbeck. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.