Experts' view

Su Peike, researcher with University of International Business and Economics' Public Policy Research Institute:

Reform is necessary as it's a matter of bridging the gap and realizing the equality. However, challenges remain.

There's still a gap to be filled in China's pension system and the focus should be on that and also on finding a way to manage the pension system in the future under the new policies and defining the proportion of financial supplement, as well as making plans for delayed retirement.

 

Tang Jun, secretary Public Policy Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Social Science:

The reform will not affect the salaries of employee's in state agencies as the wages will be adjusted as they need to pay for their own pensions.

 

Zheng Gongcheng, Renmin University of China:

The pension was previously paid from fiscal funds, which is unfair. The reform pursues justice in pension systems for different groups of people. Despite of a reduction in pensions, occupational annuities for the affected staff will help prevent sharp losses.

 

Chen Bulei, the Southwest University of Political Science and Law:

Occupational annuity will ease the worries of the 40 million staff affected.

 

Opinions on social networks

The reform is the most-discussed topic on Chinese social media site Sina Weibo, and the hashtag "pension reform" was used 18.5 million times as of 15:50 pm Wednesday.

Jasmine-muomuo:

I have been waiting forever for this new policy, I'm hoping for a raise in the salary after the reform because currently it's too low.

 

Dapengkantianxia gave thumbs up:

If you want to enjoy social security, you have to pay for your own, no matter if you are a government official or a private enterprise employee. This is more fair.