Poverty alleviation and school disputes on agenda

Several ministry-level departments, including those responsible for poverty alleviation, education, healthcare and banking, have responded recently to issues of public concern.

Departments encouraged to buy agricultural goods

China released a plan on August 20 to encourage government departments to purchase agricultural products from poverty-stricken areas as part of targeted poverty alleviation efforts.

The plan, jointly issued by the Ministry of Finance, the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development, and the All China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives, said an integrated online sales platform for the display and trading of agricultural products from poor areas will be established before the end of October.

A list of suppliers of priority products from national-level poverty-stricken counties will be compiled and the first group of agricultural products from poor areas will be launched on the platform by the end of October, it said.

According to the plan, all departments with government procurement budgets should be making purchases through the online sales platform by next year.