HOHHOT -- Chinese Minister of Civil Affairs Li Liguo said Monday the country's old-age subsidies system has expanded to 14 provincial-level regions, benefitting 8 million citizens aged above 80.

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Last year only six provincial-level regions introduced the system, said Li, while addressing a civil affairs work meeting held in Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Li said the ministry will continue to push other provincial-level regions to establish such system, so as to better support aged residents to meet their daily needs.

According to officials, China currently has a total of 18.99 million residents aged above 80 years old.