Union for left-behind children holds first meeting

BEIJING - Twenty-seven government institutions and other organizations of China have partnered to form a stronger safety net for children left at home by migrant-worker parents.

They identified key targets for this year including carrying out a nationwide census on rural "left-behind" children, establishing a database on foster families living in poverty as well as improving and implementing policies allowing children of migrant workers to sit exams in cities.

The new network, formally established on Tuesday, comprises the ministries of civil affairs, education, public security, justice, finance, human resources and social security, and agriculture, the Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate, and organizations related to women, youngsters and disabled people, among others.

At the network's first meeting on Wednesday, delegates also called for measures concerning poverty alleviation, education and judicial protection for left-behind children.

Roles and duties of the members of the network were assigned at the conference.

Civil Affairs Minister Li Liguo stressed the importance of coordination and sharing information among the institutions involved.