BEIJING - The State Council, China's cabinet, has approved establishing a joint conference system for social assistance, according to a statement on the government's website on Tuesday.

The inter-ministerial system, to be led by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, is aimed at enhancing coordination to address major social assistance issues.

Responsibilities of the joint conference will include designing and improving key social assistance systems and policies, as well as coordinating policy on medical care, education, housing, minimum living security, employment and poverty alleviation, according to the statement.

The system will cover 23 ministry-level departments, including the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Ministry of Agriculture and the People's Bank of China.