People’s welfare

Zhou Chang is a little dizzy after starting a new career at the age of 40.

He realized his dream of a better life when his family moved into a 45 square meter apartment in the new Lijing community in Changchun, capital of Northeast China's Jilin Province.

"Thanks to government policy we were given a new apartment," Zhou said. He and his family used to live in a humble house with no central heating, gas or clean water. The local government set up a brand new community for Zhou and 3,400 other villagers on the outskirts of Changchun and helped them to start a new life in several ways, ranging from providing low-rate loans to skills training, according to Changchun Economic and Technological Development Zone managers, who have invested billions of yuan in improving living standards in recent years.

Like Zhou, many city residents' had no tap water, no heating, no paved roads, no clean toilets and no primary school.

The Changchun government invested 2.8 billion yuan to renew the heating system and install insulation. This project has benefited 270,000 families — more than 800,000 citizens — accounting for a third of the urban population.

Experts said the project not only warmed the homes but also the hearts of local citizens in a city where temperatures can plunge to the minus 20s Celsius in winter.

In addition to the warm home project, the Changchun government introduced a "livelihood action plan" and took various measures to improve the well-being of residents, ranging from food supplies to increasing incomes.

"Let the people share the fruits of development," said Changchun Party chief Gao Guangbin.

Tens of thousands of employment opportunities were provided to laid-off workers, solving the employment problems for thousands of families.

The average personal disposable income has increased by more than 10 per cent and reached 20,487 yuan in 2011, according to Shi Yushan, Director of the National Bureau of Changchun Investigation Team.

Changchun was awarded the title of "Chinese City with Happiness" in a city poll by Eastern Outlook Journal from 2007 to 2010. It was also named "National Civilized City" in 2011. The awards were made on the basis of the impressions and feelings of local residents.

A social security system has been established covering retirement pensions, unemployment insurance, medical insurance and subsistence allowances.

Contact the writers at Liumingtai@chinadaily.com.cn,. wuyong@chinadaily.com.cn Han Junhong contributed to the story