BEIJING — China is committed to ensuring high-quality development throughout various stages and the entire process of education during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), a senior official said on March 31.

Robust efforts will be made to ensure equal access to basic public education, said Song Demin, vice-minister of education, noting that the right to education of those living in difficulties will be safeguarded.

Other items on the agenda include advancing industry-education integration in vocational education, making higher education accessible to more people and providing more resources for life-long learning, Song told a press conference.

The vice-minister also vowed to narrow urban-rural and regional gaps in education as China pushes for rural vitalization and regional integrated development.