Originally reported November 12, 2026. At a State Council study session on China’s social security system, Premier Li Qiang called for further reforms to address changes in the population, technology and employment. His remarks set out priorities, not newly enacted rules.
Li called for expanding employer-sponsored pension coverage, making the personal pension system more attractive, supporting commercial health insurance and advancing long-term care insurance in a measured way. He also urged improvements to social security for flexible workers and stronger protection for people in newer forms of employment.
Other priorities included gradually raising pension protection for urban and rural residents, strengthening unemployment insurance, and improving the long-term sustainability and oversight of social security funds. Li called for implementing national pooling of employee pension insurance and advancing provincial pooling of basic medical insurance.
Renmin University of China professor Zheng Gongcheng gave a presentation at the session. Vice premiers He Lifeng and Liu Guozhong, and State Councillor Shen Yiqin, also spoke.
