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Remarks at the
pres
s conference sponsored by the State Council Information
Office
(7 September
2004)
Mr. Wang Dongjin,
Vice Minister of Labour and Social Security
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Good morning.
China’s Social Security Situation and
Policies released today, is the first white paper
devoted by the Chinese government exclusively to social security situation and
policies in China. This fully reflects the great importance that the Chinese
government attaches to social security issues; it also embodies the strenuous
efforts of China in establishing and improving a social security system
compatible with its economic development level. This white paper consists of 12
sections: introduction, pension insurance, unemployment insurance, medical
insurance, work injury insurance, maternity insurance, social welfare,
preferential treatment for active servicemen and placement of ex-servicemen,
social relief, housing security, social security in rural areas, and conclusion.
The paper contains about 12,000 words.
As is well known, China is the biggest developing country
in the world, with a large population, a rather low level of economic
development, and uneven development between regions, and between urban and rural
areas, thus task of improving the social security system is truly challenging
and arduous. Basing on its national circumstances and adhering to the principle
of putting people first, the Chinese government attaches high importance to, and
for a long time, has been devoting great efforts to the building and improving
its social security system; eye-catching accomplishments have been achieved in
this regard.
The Chinese government considers the establishment of a
social security system as an important component of its socialist market economy
system, has unified enterprise basic pension systems under the principle of
combining social pooling with individual accounts, and has put in place basic
medical insurance, unemployment insurance, work injury insurance and maternity
insurance schemes for urban employees, and minimum living standard security
system for urban residents.
In order to provide guarantee of basic livelihood for the
people in the economic transition, the Chinese government has adopted a series
of effective measures, having safeguarded the basic livelihood for more than 28
million laid-off workers from state enterprises, paid unemployment benefits to
more than 8 million unemployed workers, ensured timely and full payment of
pensions to more than 36 million enterprise retirees, and granted minimum living
standard security allowances to more than 22 million needy people in urban
areas.
The Chinese government takes active initiative to deepen
reform in social security system, and has carried out pilot projects concerning
improving social security system for urban areas in Liaoning, Jilin and
Helongjiang Provinces. Experiences have beem accumulated in the exploration for
sustainable development of social security system.
The Chinese government attaches great importance to the
expansion of social security coverage. At present, social security coverage has
extended from state enterprise employees to workers in all categories of
economic entities. Social security pilot schemes have been undertaken in some
places, like pension insurance for rural areas, new rural cooperative medical
care, and minimum living standard security targeted to rural
residents.
In order to strengthen collection of social security
contributions, and maintain a continuous growth of the fund, the Chinese
government has been constantly restructuring its financial expenditures, and has
significantly increased its financial appropriation to social security. Multiple
sources are adopted to mobilize resources for the social security reserve fund.
The progress in social security programmes has played an
important role in China’s all-round economic and social development. It has
brought about tangible benefits to people, and given them a better sense of
security. It has contributed to promoting social justice, harmony and
stability.
For a certain period in the coming years, the Chinese
government will follow the guidance of the scientific development concept,
orientate its work towards the objective of building a well-off society at all
fronts, adhere to the principle of putting people first, coordinate its efforts
in employment, reemployment, labour relations and social security, speed up the
construction of a relatively sound social security system compatible with its
economic development level so as to address the needs of the socialist market
economy system, and enable more people with social security.
The Chinese government attaches high importance to
international exchange and cooperation in the field of labour and social
security, participates actively in international labour affairs, and has
undertaken fruitful exchange and cooperation programmes with many countries and
international organizations, which has played a positive role in promoting
all-round development of China’s social security.
At this juncture, I would like to inform you that the
28th General Assembly of the International Social Security
Association will be held in Beijing from 12 to 18 in September. Over 1,000
delegates from more than 140 countries will attend the conference, conducting
in-depth discussions on social security issues facing today’s world. The first
ever releasing by the Chinese government of the white paper on China’s Social
Security Situation and Policies, and the first ever hosting by China of an
ISSA general assembly are two milestone events in the history of China’s social
security development; they will certainly provide forceful momentum for China’s
social security to develop in a faster and better fashion.
I would like to convey our appreciation for the press
from both home and abroad for your long-term attention and support to China’s
labour and social security issues.
My colleagues and I are ready to take up your
questions.
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