The Information Office of China's State Council on Tuesday, September 7,
2004, issued a white paper titled "China's Social Security and Its Policy". The
following is the full text of the document:
China's Social Security and Its
Policy
Information Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China
September 2004, Beijing
Contents
Foreword
I Old-Age Insurance
II Unemployment Insurance
III Medical Insurance
IV Insurance for Work-related Injuries
V Maternity Insurance
VI Social Welfare
VII Special Care and Placement
VIII Social Relief
IX Housing Security
X Social Security in Rural Areas
Conclusion
First Edition 2004 China Internet Information Center
Homepage:http://www.china.org.cn
E-mail:infornew@public.bta.net.cn
ISBN 7-80148-653-16
Published by New Star Publishers 24 Baiwanzhuang
Road, Beijing 100037, China Distributed by China International Book Trading
Corporation 35 Chegongzhuang Xilu, Beijing 100044, China P.O. Box 399, Beijing,
China Printed in the People's Republic of China
Foreword
Social security is one of the most important socio-economic systems for a
country in modern times. To establish and improve a social security system
corresponding to the level of economic development is a logical requirement for
coordinated economic and social development. It is also an important guarantee
for the social stability and the long-term political stability of a country.
China is the biggest developing country with a large population in the world,
and its economic base is weak and the development between regions and between
town and country is unbalanced. Establishing a sound social security system in
China is an extremely arduous task.
In light of China's actual situation and adhering to the principle of
"putting people first," the Chinese Government attaches great importance and
devotes every effort to establishing and improving its social security system.
The Constitution of the People's Republic of China stipulates that the state
shall establish and improve a social security system corresponding to the level
of economic development. The Chinese Government regards economic development as
the basic prerequisite for improving people's livelihood and effecting social
security.
For a long time before 1978, when China adopted the reform and opening-up
policies, China had practiced a social security policy corresponding to its
planned economic system, providing social security services to its people as
best it could. Since China established and improved its socialist market economy
system in the mid-1980s a series of reforms have been introduced to change the
old social security system practiced under the planned economy, and a basic
framework of a social security system has been set up in China corresponding to
the market economy system, with the central and local governments sharing
specific responsibilities.
China's social security system includes social insurance, social welfare, the
special care and placement system, social relief and housing services. As the
core of the social security system, social insurance includes old-age insurance,
unemployment insurance, medical insurance, work-related injury insurance and
maternity insurance.
