BEIJING, May 6 (Xinhua) -- China has strengthened the protection of the rights and interests of homeless, poverty-stricken and disabled children, according to sources with the women and children affairs committee of the State Council, China's cabinet.

    "Under a national project to treat disabled children, civil affairs authorities at all levels have helped more than 20,000 disabled children to receive free medical operations, with a success rate of 99.7 percent," said an official with the State Council committee.

    The official said the central government has offered orphans of the country preferential policies in education, housing and employment and made sure they receive the nine-year compulsory education.

    Statistics show that China has invested 53 million yuan (6.8 million U.S. dollars) of welfare fund to help children orphaned by HIV/AIDS improve life and educational conditions.

    The country has 224 orphanages, which, along with around 1,200 social welfare institutions, have adopted 66,000 orphans, abandoned babies and disabled children, official statistics show.

    China has 573,000 orphans, most of whom have been adopted by local families.