(CFP Photo)
Jiangsu’s three cities - Changzhou, Nantong and Kunshan - have been included in the third batch of the national child-friendly pilot city list.
Changzhou has earned its place by being among the first in China to adopt a legal approach to child-friendly initiative. It has introduced a master plan and implementation programs that span various sectors including healthcare, education, safety, wellbeing and environment.
For example, one of the key tasks is to remodel public spaces and facilities to be more accessible to children, such as adjusting heights and renovating schools, hospitals and public transportation systems.
In recent years, Nantong has integrated a child-centric perspective in its urban planning and policy-making, covering education, healthcare, culture, sports, nutrition and social welfare. Efforts have been made to improve urban public services for children, optimize public resource allocation, and conduct relevant research.
In increasing protection of children's rights, the city has achieved a 100% rate in key indicators, such as legal case clearance within statutory periods and regular inspections of school buses and large amusement facilities. Through renovation of public places and facilitates, and upgrade of children's activity spaces, Nantong has created child-friendly parks, residential communities and hospitals.
Kunshan stands out as one of the few county-level cities to be included in the list, thanks to the increased government investment and a series of initiatives, ranging from facility construction to service enhancements.
The city’s policy planning outlines specific tasks and measures related to transportation and specialized services. Kunshan has incorporated children’s needs in the urban renewal, ecological renovation and rural environment enhancement, boasting parks and residential communities friendly to children. The city also promotes cultural resources like Kunqu Opera in schools and has improved medical assistance and education subsidies for children.
Additionally, Kunshan has promoted friendly exchanges between children on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, organizing activities such as summer camps, sports events and art shows.
Previously, four cities in Jiangsu - Nanjing, Wuxi, Suzhou and Yangzhou - were included in the second batch of pilot cities, underscoring the province's commitment to creating inclusive environment for children.
