China's national health watchdog has released dual action plans aimed at better protection of maternal and infant safety and children's health.

By 2020, the maternal mortality rate in China is expected to drop to 18 out of every 100,000 and the infant mortality rate should be lowered to 7.5 out of 1,000, according to the maternal and infant safety action plan (2018-20).

Five aspects, including pregnancy risk prevention and emergency and severe case treatment, are covered in the plan.

The action plan for healthy children (2018-20) mentions eight specific fields -- from promotion of children's health and prevention and treatment of birth defects to improvements in nutrition.

It encourages constant improvement in Chinese children's health service system in both rural and urban areas.

The two complementary action plans implement the Healthy China 2030 Blueprint.

The blueprint was released by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council in 2016 and says that efforts will be made to improve maternal and child care services.