No 4

Pension system for urban unemployed and rural residents

In February, a circular was issued stating that rural residents and the urban unemployed should enjoy the same pension by the end of 2015.

No 5

Air pollution control

In May, an action plan for 2014 and 2015 was announced to save energy and reduce emissions.

During 2014 and 2015, energy consumed per unit of GDP should be reduced by more than 3.9 percent annually. Emissions of carbon dioxide per unit of GDP should drop by more than 4 percent in 2014 and more than 3.5 percent in 2015.

Targets were also set for the reduction of chemical oxygen demand per unit of GDP, as well as emissions of sulfur dioxide, ammonia nitrogen and nitrogen oxide per unit of GDP.

By the end of 2015, outdated capacity in iron smelting and steel smelting should be cut by 15 million tons each.

Also by that time, outdated capacity in the cement industry should be cut by 100 million tons; and by 20 million weight cases in the plate glass industry.

In Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and surrounding areas, the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta, industries with severe overcapacity must reduce coal consumption before they can set up any project that uses coal.

The plan aims to reduce coal consumption in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei as a whole in 2015.

No 6

Changes in college entrance exam

A circular in September 2014 aims to reform gaokao, or the college entrance examination, which is being tried as a pilot project in Shanghai and Zhejiang.

High school students in the two places will not be divided into liberal arts or science students.

From 2015, students will not be granted extra points in the college entrance examination for artistic or athletic merit.

Universities and colleges are required to enroll more students from relatively-underdeveloped central and western regions; and top universities and colleges should increase the intake of students from rural areas.