China will work hard next year to solve problems directly related to the benefits of its people, so as to maintain social stability and build a more harmonious society, according to the consensus reached by the country's top decision-makers at a key economic meeting that concluded on Thursday.

The Central Economic Work Conference, an annual meeting for deciding the country's major economic strategy and policy for the coming year, issued a statement following its conclusion. It said that China will place more emphasis on the creation of job opportunities next year.

It also said that China will improve the social security system in line with its economic development, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of rural migrants working in the cities.

China will make more investment next year in compulsory education in the rural areas as well as in vocational education, so as to improve labor quality and skills, the statement said.

It said that urban and rural medical service systems should be improved next year, with the reform of the drug production and marketing system further deepened.

More efforts will be made next year to develop the cultural industry and improve public cultural services, said the statement.

The statement laid much emphasis on the issue of work safety in the coming year, vowing to "resolutely prevent the occurrence of major accidents."

As bird flu is plaguing quite a few regions across the country, the statement urged all localities and departments to "attach great importance to the prevention and control of the highly pathogenic avian influenza" and make intensified efforts to build and improve the prevention and control system against animal epidemics.

Source: Xinhua