Chinese premier stresses child protection

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang receives a painting created by a child when he visits the Bayi Children's Hospital in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2014. Li expressed his wishes to children ahead of the International Children's Day. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng)

Chinese authorities must improve education, social aid and protection for minors, Premier Li Keqiang urged on Friday, two days ahead of International Children's Day.

Li made the remarks during a tour of a children's hospital in Beijing, where he visited disabled orphans receiving treatment.

The premier said such orphans are among the people in greatest need of help, and called on doctors and nurses to do a better job in curing their physical as well as psychological pains.

Noting that a special program had provided medical treatment and rehabilitation training to more than 80,000 disabled orphans, Li said authorities must step up investment in the scheme to allow more kids, especially those from the countryside and less developed regions, to benefit from it.