More efforts should be made to improve the social security
system and guarantee a better life for the people, says a signed
article in People's Daily. An excerpt follows:
The municipal government is to include the Beijing Children's
Medical Cooperation Fund, a voluntary fund jointly established by
the Red Cross of Beijing, the local bureau of public health, and
the commission of education in its social security system later
this year. A more complete social security system, including a
basic medical security system for children, will be a strong
support to people's lives as well as to social harmony.
Compared with increasing GDP numbers and investment numbers, the
construction of a complete social security system needs more effort
by the government and may not achieve immediate results. Thus some
regional governments are not enthusiastic about it and progress is
slow.
As a country with a huge population, China needs to speed up
completing its social security system. China's aging population is
increasing rapidly. The cost of supporting the elderly will
increase by 180 percent from 2005 to 2050. The government has to
increase input in the social security system starting now.
Expanding our social security system will let more people enjoy
basic security, giving them better opportunities for
development.
From the angle of expanding domestic spending, people will spend
more when the social security system is sound. Therefore, the
construction of a complete social security system is not only a
kind of expenditure but also an investment to expand economic
growth. It can provide drive for sustainable development of our
society and economy.
Social harmony and a more advanced civilization can be expected
as our social security system is expanded.
(China Daily June 14, 2007)