The problems faced by homeless children and defects in the current system that is supposed to protect the vulnerable group were discussed on Wednesday at a meeting of officials from the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

The gathering came as some of the country's political advisers were calling for the establishment of a specialized organization at the national level to deal with child protection.

Related departments from more than 10 provinces and cities gathered in Beijing for the meeting, according to Dou Yupei, vice-minister of civil affairs, who spoke to Beijing News.

The ministry's publicity office refused to share any additional details when contacted by China Daily.

Han Hong, a popular singer who is also a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), has proposed that the State should take on more responsibility for the protection of children and especially those who face difficulties and whose parents or legal guardians have failed to protect them.

She suggested that the central government could set up a special powerful department to take care of children's affairs, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The singer, who has been active in promoting child welfare, also called for the establishment of an intervention mechanism at the community level and urged administrative and judicial authorities to deal with the social problems that affect children.

Han also said the State should consider depriving parents and legal guardians of their rights to care for children if they are found to have harmed or abused them.

She has prepared a proposal that she expects to submit during the Fourth Session of the 11th National Committee of the CPPCC. That meeting starts on Thursday.

Han's expected proposal was welcomed by Liu Huawen, an associate researcher who specializes in the rights of children at the Institute of International Law under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.