NANCHANG, Sept. 14 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi on Wednesday urged the accelerated growth of the rural cooperative medical system for its more than 800 million rural residents.

    Begun in in the later half of 2003, the medical system has reached 21 percent of the counties (or cities or districts) across China, covering 163 million rural people, said Vice Premier Wu at a national working meeting held in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province.

    More and more rural people benefit from the new type of medical system and welcome it, she acknowledged.

    For the next two years, the coverage of the system is expected to expand to about 40 to 60 percent of all counties. Beginning in2006, the Ministry of Fiance will increase the subsidy of each farmer to 20 yuan (1.2 US dollars) annually, Wu disclosed.

    Local authorities must ensure the financial support and raise subsidies for farmers to the largest extent, putting emphasis on needy and disabled rural families, she noted, adding that peasant farmers may join the system with their families as units but should not be forced to do that.

    The rural cooperative medical system focuses on the mutual-aid organized, guided and supported by the government, and farmers are supposed to participate on a volunteer basis. It is expected to be popularized nationwide by 2008. Enditem