The Ministry of Civil Affairs urged local governments to honor veterans who joined the Kuomintang (KMT) to fight in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression by inviting them to celebrations of important anniversaries.

Eligible KMT-related veterans should also be covered in social security programs and be granted preference for admission to nursing homes, the ministry said Wednesday, in response to a proposal submitted by Peter Wong Man Kong, Hong Kong deputy of the National People's Congress, Beijing Times reported.

KMT-related veterans were not looked after for historical reasons, making it necessary to launch a national census for those veterans, especially those in need or forgotten, said the proposal.

The proposal was based on research by the Shenzhen Longyue Charity Foundation, a non-governmental organization dedicated to helping veterans, showing that they have tracked down about 2,000 KMT-related veterans, an estimated 10 percent of the total.

The ministry's reply is a big gesture, signaling the government's involvement, said Sun Chunlong, director of the foundation.