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Speakers:

Li Zhong, vice minister of human resources and social security 

Zhang Ying, director-general of the Department of Employment Promotion, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS)

Qi Tao, senior official of the Department of Old-age Insurance, MOHRSS

Chairperson:

Chen Wenjun, spokesperson of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) 

Date:

Aug. 25, 2022

Chen Wenjun:

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference held by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee. Today, we are holding the 24th press conference under the theme of "China in the past decade." We have invited Mr. Li Zhong, vice minister of MOHRSS, to brief you on the progress and achievements of China's employment and social security in the new era, and to take your questions. Also joining us today are Ms. Zhang Ying, director-general of the Department of Employment Promotion, MOHRSS, and Mr. Qi Tao, a senior official from the Department of Old-age Insurance, MOHRSS.

First, let's give the floor to Mr. Li Zhong for his introduction.

Li Zhong:

Friends from the media, hello. I am very pleased to attend today's press conference. Here, I'd like to express my gratitude to you for your interest in and support for the developments in China's employment and social security.

During the past decade of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has adhered to the people-centered development philosophy and prioritized delivering a better life to the people. In alliance with the overall work of the Party and the country as well as the new situation, new tasks and new requirements of the country's development, the CPC Central Committee has consistently sought truth from facts and done everything within its capacity. Following the ideas of holding on to the bottom line, highlighting priorities, improving institutions and guiding expectations, it has shored up the weak links in securing people's wellbeing, and ensured that public services are inclusive, meet essential needs and ensure basic living standards for people in difficulty, so that people can have a fuller, safer and more sustainable sense of fulfillment, happiness and security. General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to employment and social security work, underscoring that employment is the foundation of and pivotal to people's wellbeing, and social security is critical to good governance and the stability of the country. We will work to create fuller employment with higher quality, and make improvements to achieve a sustainable, multi-level social security system which covers the country's entire population, coordinates the needs of urban and rural areas, and is fair and unified. All regions and departments have been resolute in implementing and promoting the great, historic achievements in the country's employment and social security. This has effectively improved people's lives, strongly supported steady economic growth as well as social harmony and stability, and paved the way for achieving the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects on schedule.

Over the past decade, employment has remained generally stable and China, a large country with a population of over 1.4 billion, has achieved relatively full employment. The employment-first strategy has been fully implemented and the proactive employment policy has been constantly enriched and developed, with the guiding role of the employment-first concept significantly strengthened. Urban employment has expanded remarkably, with more than 13 million new urban jobs created annually. Historic changes have taken place in the urban and rural employment landscape, with urban workers accounting for more than 60% in 2021, up 13.8 percentage points from 2012. The employment structure has been constantly improved, and the tertiary industry has provided more jobs, seeing an increase from 36% of all jobs in 2012 to 48% in 2021. The unemployment level has remained low, and the surveyed urban unemployment rate has been generally lower than the expected target for control. Employment of key groups such as college graduates, rural migrant workers and people who have difficulty finding employment has been stable, and the number of migrant workers who have been lifted out of poverty has remained above 30 million. The legitimate rights and interests of workers have been effectively safeguarded, and labor relations have been generally harmonious and stable. The vocational skills of the workforce have been continuously upgraded, and the cultivation of skilled personnel has been consistently enhanced. A comprehensive public employment service system has basically taken shape. Recruitment campaigns such as the "Spring Breeze Action" and "Online Recruitment Providing More Than 10 Million Jobs in 100 Days" have yielded remarkable results, and the human resources service industry has grown in scale.

Over the past decade, China's social security system has entered the fast lane and become the largest in the world, with distinctive Chinese characteristics and comprehensive functions thanks to unremitting efforts. Focusing on helping those most in need, building a tightly woven safety net and establishing necessary institutions, we have advanced the development of sustainable, multi-level social security which will cover the entire population and meet basic living needs, with major breakthroughs being made in institutional reform and social security coverage being continuously expanded. The number of people covered by basic old-age insurance, unemployment insurance and work-related injury insurance increased from 790 million, 150 million and 190 million in 2012, to 1.04 billion, 230 million and 290 million, respectively, in June 2022, with an additional 250 million people covered by old-age insurance alone over the past decade. China's ability to provide social security has continued to increase. The accumulative surplus of social security funds for old-age insurance, unemployment insurance and work-related injury insurance has reached 6.9 trillion yuan, with annual revenue and expenditure exceeding 13 trillion yuan and market-based investment and operation funds exceeding 8 trillion yuan. We have kept the alliance of social security level with economic growth, and steadily increased social security benefits. A five-level administration and service network for handling social security has been basically formed to record, guarantee and serve people's whole life. The national social security public service platform has been put into operation, with the administration and services becoming visibly more regulated, standardized and advanced in applying information technology.

All these accomplishments should be attributed to the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core and the scientific guidance of the Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Embarking on a new journey of building a modern socialist country in all respects, we should continue the Chinese mode of modernization and make strides toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Rallying closer around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, we will ground our efforts in the new development stage. We will follow the new development philosophy, foster a new development paradigm and strive to achieve fuller and higher-quality employment while pursuing overall high-quality development. A tiered social security system will be built comprehensively to promote social fairness, justice, and well-rounded human development, enabling all our people to take concrete steps toward common prosperity. 

Now, my colleagues and I are ready to take questions from our media friends. 

Chen Wenjun:

Thank you, Mr. Li. The floor is now open for questions. Please identify the media outlet you represent before raising questions.