BEIJING, Sept. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- All countries should make social security available to more people, especially those living at margins of the society, according to a declaration passed at the 28th General Assembly of the International Social Security Association (ISSA) here Friday.

According to the declaration, social security plays a pivotal role in stimulating economic and social development by supporting economic growth and fostering social cohesion.

The declaration issues an appeal to extend coverage to the categories of the population that do not benefit from any formal social security protection.

"Social security is at the core of any poverty reduction strategy, and new approaches to broaden coverage must be sought," it says.

It says that the aging population offers both challenges and opportunities to reform labor markets and to ensure long-term sustainability of social security schemes.

Governments should play a key role in extending working lives by changing retirement patterns, and in developing people's adaptability to labor markets by encouraging learning and skill training, it says.

The assembly, held from September 12 to 18, is focused on the role social security plays in economic and social development, the importance of ensuring sound governance and the necessity of protecting people's right to social security. More than 1,500 delegates from 151 countries have participated.

The 29th assembly of ISSA will be held in Russia in 2007. Enditem