On October 23, China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs held a press conference titled “Civil Affairs in the Past Five Years.” During this event, Zhu Yujun, Deputy Director-General and Senior Inspector of the Social Affairs Department, shared that as of the end of September 2024, a total of 416,000 couples have benefited from the cross-province marriage registration service.
Zhu highlighted that over the past five years, the Ministry has fully implemented the decisions and policies of the Central Committee and the State Council, focusing on the needs and expectations of the public. With a spirit of innovation and reform, the Ministry has made significant progress in various areas of social affairs.
One of the key achievements mentioned was the enhancement of marriage management services. The Ministry has concentrated on the public’s desire for better marriages and families, optimizing marriage registration services and introducing more beneficial measures to promote harmonious families. The initiative to allow marriage registration across provincial lines has gained momentum, with 21 provinces now participating, covering 78.5% of the national population. By September 2024, 416,000 couples had registered their marriages through this cross-province service. Additionally, over 1,800 wedding custom reform pilot units have been established to encourage innovative and culturally relevant marriage practices, catering to younger generations’ preferences for “simple yet sophisticated, romantic yet sustainable” wedding ceremonies. The establishment of over 270 park-based marriage registration sites further enhances the quality of service and setting.
Zhu also emphasized advancements in welfare for people with disabilities. The Ministry has prioritized establishing a more comprehensive social welfare system, leading to significant improvements in services for disabled individuals. The enhancement of the two subsidy systems for people with disabilities has expanded coverage to 11.89 million disadvantaged individuals and 16.11 million with severe disabilities. Ongoing projects targeting mental health facilities and community rehabilitation services for individuals with mental disorders have also been implemented, alongside the introduction of a national innovation pilot for rehabilitation equipment.
Furthermore, Zhu discussed progress in funeral services. The Ministry has been focused on developing regulations that prioritize public welfare in the funeral industry. Recent policies on ecological burial practices and funeral service reforms have strengthened management standards. Approximately 178 billion yuan has been invested in constructing around 16,800 public cemeteries and over 3,350 public columbariums to support beneficiary burial services across all provinces.
Lastly, Zhu talked about improvements in the disaster relief management system. The Ministry has worked to reinforce the mechanisms for providing aid, contributing to over 4.35 million temporary assistance cases and helping over 70,000 individuals reunite with their families. Special relief actions are conducted annually to support individuals facing difficulties during extreme weather, and efforts to optimize care services at relief stations have also been emphasized.
As the Ministry continues to enhance its services and policies, it aims to cultivate a supportive and compassionate society for all citizens.
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