RECENT data suggests that in the first three quarters of 2018, spending on livelihood in Futian District totaled over 16 billion yuan (US$2.32 billion), accounting for 80 percent of total public spending, the Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported, citing official figures. As a central district in the city, the Futian government has always centered its work around people by striving to address their concerns. In 2018, the district achieved great success in this regard in areas such as education, health and nursing services. Devoted to becoming a strong player in education, Futian District has sourced high quality education. All schools of compulsory education in the district meet the municipal standard and all high schools meet the national demonstration standard. For its efforts, the district has been awarded as a national demonstration district for the internationalization of elementary education and a demonstration district for the comprehensive reform of education. A number of prominent schools, such as Shenzhen Experimental School, Shenzhen Foreign Languages School, Shenzhen Senior High School, Liyuan Primary School, Liyuan Foreign Languages Primary School and Yuanling Primary School, as well as some educational reform pioneers like Hongling Education Group and Mingde Experimental School, are located in Futian District. Futian added 3,000 seats for students in 2018, and it plans to build 4 new schools and renovate 14 schools in the following two years. By the end of 2020, the district will have 10 new schools and will have finished renovation projects on 28 schools, which are expected to add 27,000 seats for students, doubling the number in the original plan. Two important events, The Second Annual Chinese STEM Education Development Conference and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area STEM Education Forum, were held in the district in June 2018, demonstrating the influence of Futian in STEM education. STEM refers to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, which has been widely accepted by the education circle as the concept claims to improve students’ knowledge of science and technology through comprehensive studies and to cultivate students with creative spirits and practical abilities. As a result, the district has established 17 STEM education bases. Besides education, medical services is another field that the district has been working on. Many hospitals, such as Shenzhen Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine and The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University have initiated construction on new buildings. Upon completion, over 3,000 new beds will be available for patients. The district government will continue to develop a graded diagnosis system. Community healthcare service is one of their focuses in this aspect. They aim to introduce more family doctors to communities, nursing institutions and families, and help the elderly receive health services. (Wang Jingli) | 