BEIJING - China resettled 550,000 demobilized soldiers and helped them to find jobs last year, Li Liguo, Minister of Civil Affairs, was quoted as saying in a Thursday article in the People's Daily newspaper.

While visiting soldiers in Northwest China's Gansu province, Li said the central government spent 1.9 billion yuan (about $300 million) on resettling retired servicemen last year, and over 200,000 ex-servicemen attended free educational courses and technical training programs, the paper reported.

In addition, Li said, China started offering allowances to retired soldiers 60 years or older who live in rural areas, benefiting some 3.2 million people.

A policy that provides subsidies for elderly people who are the children of soldiers who died in combat was created last year, benefiting another 600,000 people, Li said.

China in 2011 introduced an amended Military Service Law and the Regulations on the Resettlement of Ex-Servicemen to help demobilized soldiers readjust to civilian life.