Multiple Chinese departments issue document, calling for efforts to build youth-development-friendly cities

A total of 15 Chinese departments including Communist Youth League of China Central Committee and the National Development and Reform Commission on Wednesday jointly issued a document, urging for efforts to ramp up the construction of youth-development-friendly cities in the country.

By 2030, the concept of youth-development-friendly cities will be widely established, and by 2035, China aims to form a "relatively mature and complete system for youth development, according to the document.

It maps out measures to address pressing difficulties and concerns of young people in marriage and childbirth, employment and entrepreneurship, housing and other areas, including efforts to improve the childbirth and care subsidy system, and to explore multi-field linked childbirth support policies in housing, transportation, consumption and other fields.

To ramp up employment of college graduates and other young groups, the document requires relevant organs to provide affordable housing, and associated supportive services to facilitate college graduates' off-campus employment.

And, continuous efforts should be made to consolidate the industrial foundation suitable for youth innovation, and optimize material conditions that underpin youth innovation, so as to stimulate the creativity of young people.

The document also proposes relevant bodies to carry out the "AI Plus" initiative, develop city-specific policies to accelerate growth of modern services, in order to create more job opportunities for young people. Meanwhile, efforts should be made to support young people to play a leading role in major scientific and technological research and development.

In addition, the document encourages different cities to make good use of their schools, public cultural facilities and other resources to run night schools for youth, helping them hone their job skills and pursue lifelong learning.