China established 28,000 aid reception centers last year in its effort to improve the social aid network, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said Wednesday.

More than 4,000 "Charity Supermarkets," a form of aid center for households living under the minimum standard of living, were set up and received donations of 1.42 billion yuan (US$171.49 million) and 85.18 million yuan (US$10.32 million) worth of material aid last year. The centers received some 18.49 million visits last year.

The ministry has called governments at all levels and social organizations to aid the poor and victims of disaster-hit regions.

Minister Li Xueju said that the ministry would strive to help more than 90 percent of the provinces and 70 percent of the counties to establish their social aid systems this year.

A mechanism would be set up to ensure steady capital input to aid the poverty-stricken people in the rural area, while a rural medical aid system would be established in all counties across the country, he said.

According to the ministry, China also spent 17.29 billion yuan (US$2.1 billion) in 2004 to help more than 22 million urban residents living below the minimum standard of living.

The residents whose monthly income is below 159 yuan (US$19.27) received a monthly stipend of 65 yuan (US$7.9), up 7 yuan from 2003.

 The minimum standard of living varies in different regions, depending on local prices.

According to the ministry, more than 1,200 counties have established a minimum standard of living system. About 8.75 million poverty-stricken farmers received 1.69 billion yuan (US$204.85 million in 2004 with a monthly allowance of 16 yuan (US$1.9) per person.

The Chinese government has promised to improve the system and raise the amount of allowance to better guarantee the minimum living standards in both cities and the countryside in 2005.

(Xinhua News Agency February 9, 2005)