Health care:

The central government has allocated 83.158 billion yuan to health care, an increase of 25.2 percent. The money will be used to support improvements in public health services, reform the drug and health management system, implement the new rural cooperative medical care system, expand trials of medical insurance for urban residents, and improve the medical assistance system covering both urban and rural areas.

Hu added that the central government has allocated 56 billion yuan to deepen reform of the drug and health management system and 25.3 billion yuan to fully implement the new rural cooperative medical care system.

"Base funding will be raised from 50 yuan to 100 yuan per person per year over a two-year period, and the amount of public assistance per person will rise from 40 yuan to 80 yuan per year," said Hu.

Social safety net

The central government has allocated 276.161 billion yuan to improve the social safety net and job creation, up 24.2 percent.

"The money will be used to raise cost of living allowances and pensions and to increase employment," Hu explained.

The allowance for rural residents will be raised from 30 yuan to 50 yuan per person per month. And the cost of living allowances for urban residents will double over the 2007 level. The central government has also allocated 6.8 billion yuan to housing projects.