Qinghai Prioritises People’s Wellbeing with Over 76% of Fiscal Spending on Livelihoods

Qinghai has consistently regarded improving people’s lives as its top priority, with fiscal expenditure on livelihoods accounting for more than 76% of total spending in recent years. This commitment remains unwavering despite high altitudes and vast terrain, delivering tangible benefits to local communities.

According to official data, the province’s livelihood spending ratio has stayed above 75% for years, reaching 78.3% in 2025. This steady investment supports key areas including employment, education, healthcare and elderly care, forming a robust social safety net.

In employment, Qinghai has developed 44 renowned labour service brands such as “Qinghai Hand-pulled Noodles” and “Qinghai Embroidery”, facilitating over 500,000 rural and pastoral residents to find jobs annually. Thirty-five job markets and a 15-minute public employment service network have been established to improve access to work opportunities.

Education development remains a core focus. Over 20,000 students from high-altitude areas have benefited from off-site schooling programmes. Two undergraduate universities were approved after a 66-year gap, enabling more students to pursue higher education locally. In 2025, 76,000 preschool children received free education, and a nutrition improvement programme covered over 510,000 compulsory education students.

Healthcare services have been significantly upgraded. National and provincial regional medical centres are now operational, allowing plateau residents to receive advanced treatment without leaving the province. The average life expectancy has increased to 75.3 years. Measures including “no-accompanying wards” and centralised medicine procurement have reduced medical costs and improved service quality.

For elderly and childcare support, the province has renovated 108 rural mutual-aid senior centres and completed age-friendly renovations for 2,056 households with elderly residents. Childcare subsidies benefit 170,000 infants, while the total number of nursery beds has reached 27,360.

Infrastructure projects enhance daily life. The “Bridge Near My Home” initiative has built 500 convenient bridges, solving travel difficulties for over 300,000 farmers and herdsmen. Renovation of 20,000 old urban residential buildings and improved housing for 27,000 rural households have upgraded living conditions.

Looking ahead, Qinghai will continue to prioritise livelihood investment. The 15th Five-Year Plan focuses on stable employment, elderly and childcare services, and poverty alleviation, ensuring sustainable improvement in people’s wellbeing.