BEIJING, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- China pledged more efforts to prioritize the development of ethnic-minority areas and protect lawful rights and interests of ethnic minorities, according to an action plan released Thursday.

The right of ethnic minorities to participate in the management of state and social affairs on an equal footing shall be guaranteed by the state, said the National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2016-2020), issued by the Information Office of the State Council.

The proportion of women delegates to the people's congresses and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) committees at all levels shall be gradually increased, so shall the proportion of women in the leadership of the people's congresses, governments and CPPCC committees at all levels, it said, adding that by 2020, women members shall make up over 30 percent of total members of villagers' committees, over 10 percent of the villagers' committee chairpersons, and about 50 percent of the members of urban residents' committees.

The state shall also enhance the prevention and treatment of childhood diseases and injuries. By 2020 the mortality rate of infants and kids under the age of five shall be no higher than 7.5 per 1,000 and 9.5 per 1,000, respectively, it said.

A mechanism to address population ageing shall be developed to effectively protect the legal rights and interests of elderly people, it said, adding that the old-age service market shall be open fully, and various market players shall be encouraged to increase the provision of old-age services and products by multiple means such as buying services and equity cooperation.

By 2020 the old-age service facilities shall appear in over 90 percent of urban communities and 60 percent of rural communities, it noted.

It also said the system of the protection of the rights and interests of the disabled shall be improved, the level of social security and basic public services for the disabled shall be raised, and efforts shall be made to bring them more opportunities to participate in social life on an equal footing and protect their human rights.

It said that community-based rehabilitation services shall be promoted for mental patients. By 2020 there will be one mental health social welfare center at each prefecture-level city, over 70 percent of counties (cities and districts) will have a community-based rehabilitation institution for mental disorders or entrust social organizations to carry out rehabilitation services through services purchased by the government.

In addition, China shall standardize the work of national human rights education and training bases.