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Plan to improve rural substandard housing

The government will take more steps this year to renovate substandard houses in the rural areas, a joint statement by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Ministry of Finance and the National Development and Reform Commission, the top economic planner said on Sunday. Assistance will be given first to poor rural families who live in the most dilapidated houses or earthquake-prone areas to alleviate severe risks to life and property, the statement said. Local governments have been urged to complete the renovation work this year itself, and efforts should also be made to improve the use of government subsidy, it said.