Source: CCTV.com

10-19-2007 13:18

Special Report:   17th CPC National Congress

China is also working to ensure housing for the country's low-income families. This is according to Vice Minister of Construction Qiu Baoxing, who was responding to questions about the well-being of the country's citizens on Thursday.

Qiu Baoxing says Chinese urban residents have seen their housing conditions improve in recent years. The average residential area per urban citizen was around 27 square meters in 2006. He says the improvement of residential conditions fits in with the nation's goal of building a harmonious society.

Half of the country's 150 million square meters of run-down housing has been renovated.

Qiu says solving residential problems for low-income citizens will be a top government concern over the next few years.

Qiu said "It's expected that investment in affordable housing construction will double in the next three years."

He added that the affordable housing will be constructed following strict standards, with the area for each apartment limited to around 60 square meters. He also called on local governments to build more budget housing.

 

Editor:Xiong Qu