China's phased free preschool education to benefit 12 million people this autumn semester

BEIJING, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- China's phased free preschool education policy will cover all children in their final year of kindergartens nationwide, benefiting around 12 million people this autumn semester, a Ministry of Finance official said at a press briefing on Thursday.

The policy is expected to save household spending by about 20 billion yuan (about 2.8 billion U.S. dollars) in this autumn semester alone, Vice Minister of Finance Guo Tingting said.  ■