China plans to step up spending in healthcare and education this year to protect people's livelihood and promote productivity and social fairness, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Thursday.

A greater share of central government spending, which has grown by a large extent amid the COVID-19 pandemic, will be earmarked to improve basic healthcare and compulsory education – areas that are central to people's lives, Li said at a news conference after the closing of this year's session of National People's Congress, the country's top legislature.

The input – including money raised through government-issued bonds – will be even larger if the economy outperforms expectations later this year, he added.

Though such spending is unlikely to boost growth figures, they are crucial to protect people's livelihood and produce long-term benefits, he explained.

Li said China will ramp up training to address the shortage of quality teachers in counties and villages, and roll out preferable treatments for them in terms of professional evaluations.

He said out-of-town children should be able to attend schools where they live, as equal access to education is crucial to achieve equality of opportunity.

Local governments should spend more in basic healthcare to expand the scope of reimbursable medications and other items, as health is in itself a productive force and helps prevent venerable families from sliding back into poverty, he said.

Authorities will also engage private forces in developing senior and child care services, giving service providers more tax breaks, he added.