BEIJING - China aims to build a national public legal service system by 2020 that covers all groups in both urban and rural areas, the Ministry of Justice said Thursday.

Xiong Xuanguo, vice minister of justice, said at a press conference in Beijing that the country will expand the national public legal service network, allowing everyone to receive legal aid without traveling.

The ministry has built a website for legal consulting, and a consulting hotline in over 20 provinces, Xiong said.

He said China will also provide legal assistants for all villagers in 2018, and the assistants must establish group chats on WeChat, China's most widely-used messaging app, to enhance communication with residents.

Xiong said that China is now establishing public legal service centers at county and township levels nationwide.