A new department to promote charity and social welfare was set up on Thursday under China's Ministry of Civil Affairs.

The department would deal with welfare lottery, charity activities, donations and welfare projects for the elderly, disabled and children, a ministry statement said.

"We will work to boost the charity cause in China and contribute to the country's social security system," said Wang Zhenyao, the new department's director.

The department will draft rules on volunteers affairs and work on a nationwide volunteer network.

It is also entrusted to make a regulation on running the welfare lottery and managing the welfare fund raised through the lottery. It will work out plans on how to spend the money on charity programs.

(Xinhua News Agency September 11, 2008)