Chinese Premier Li Qiang called for further reform of the country’s social security system during a State Council study session on November 12, 2026. The session focused on strengthening a multi-tier system that covers the population and remains financially sustainable.
Li said changes in population structure, technological progress and more varied forms of employment were placing new demands on social security. He called for coverage and benefit levels to improve in step with economic development, while responsibilities are shared among employers, individuals, the government and society.
Among the priorities Li outlined were expanding employer annuity coverage, making the individual pension system more attractive, supporting commercial health insurance and advancing long-term care insurance in an orderly way. He also called for stronger social security coverage for flexible workers, higher pension protection for urban and rural residents, and better use of unemployment insurance.
Li urged measures to support the long-term sustainability of social security funds, including implementing nationwide pooling of employee pension insurance, advancing provincial pooling of basic medical insurance, and strengthening fund oversight. These were priorities raised at the study session, not announcements that the proposed changes had taken effect.