The meeting of the State Council called for an immediate shift to optimal working conditions to ensure the effective implementation of central decisions during the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan, according to Xinhua.
Highlighting 2026 as the starting point for the new five-year planning period, the cabinet urged all departments to heighten their sense of responsibility and urgency.
The meeting emphasized that achieving annual economic and social development goals requires a pragmatic approach grounded in actual conditions and the laws of development, rejecting vanity projects in favor of tangible results for the people.
To stimulate market vitality and improve public well-being, the State Council directed officials to adopt innovative thinking in management and services.
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The meeting instructed government officials to go to the front lines to listen to the pressing concerns of enterprises and the public. These insights must be used to formulate targeted policies that support local governments and businesses in exploring new economic growth drivers.
Addressing the “silver economy,” the meeting identified the sector as holding immense potential. The cabinet outlined a dual approach to promote the synergistic development of elderly care services and industries to support the aging population.
On the consumption side, the government plans to use policy tools, including consumption subsidies, to release demand and cultivate new business models.
On the supply side, the focus will be on improving the quality and coverage of inclusive elderly care. The goal is to build a tiered, classified, and sustainable service system that covers both urban and rural areas.
The meeting also mandated stricter safety management for elderly care institutions. Authorities vowed to eliminate risks and severely crack down on illegal activities, including false advertising, illegal fundraising, and fraud targeting seniors, to protect their lawful rights.
Regarding public safety, the meeting deliberated and adopted the “Opinions on Strengthening Grassroots Fire Work.”
Identifying the grassroots level as the front line of fire prevention, the State Council stressed the principle of “prevention first combined with firefighting.”
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The new guidelines clarify responsibilities for local management and supervision, aiming to solidify the foundation of fire control. The meeting called for widespread public education and regular evacuation drills for key groups to enhance risk awareness and self-rescue capabilities.
Concluding the session, the State Council discussed and, in principle, approved the draft revision to the Water Law of the People’s Republic of China.
The draft, which will be submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress for deliberation, aims to strengthen the legal framework for water resource protection, development, and conservation to ensure water security for high-quality development.
