China lauds social security ties with over 30 nations

China has signed 50 bilateral cooperation agreements to date with over 30 countries in the areas of human resources and social security, and has inked bilateral social security treaties with 10 countries.

Zhang Yizhen, vice-minister of human resources and social security, made the comments on Wednesday at a conference in Beijing attended by foreign diplomats.

The event was aimed at briefing diplomats on China’s policies and development in human resources and social security.

She said great achievements have been made in the country over the past five years since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was held in November 2012.

The total number of newly created urban jobs since the congress has reached 65 million, and the overall employment rate of university graduates remained above 90 percent, Zhang said.

“China has set up the world’s largest social security network, with basic retirement insurance eventually covering 900 million people, and a basic medical insurance covering over 1.3 billion,” she said, adding that China has a pool of vocational and skilled talent of over 230 million.

She said the country has also brought in more than 3 million high-caliber experts from overseas in the past five years.

Almost 100 diplomats responsible for labor or economic affairs in more than 40 countries attended the event, which focused on topics of common concern among foreign embassies, such as boosting employment, expat workers and their participation in social security programs in China, and settlement mechanisms for labor disputes.