A social security system for senior citizens in China's cities and towns has taken shape on a whole, and it is featured by the basic retired pension, basic medical care and minimum life safeguard, said Li Bengong, executive deputy director of the office of the National Working Committee for the Aged, in a recent interview with reporters.

So far, 176.07 million people in China have bought basic endowment insurance policies, and retirees from enterprises can basically be paid in full and on time. With the continuous improvement in the basic medical service insurance, more than 43 million retired people now enjoy social medical insurance. The system of the minimum standard of living for urbanites, with the aged as the main objects for protection, has been further improved, and all those who deserve guarantees are insured.

In rural areas, traditional support by family members, guarantee by plots of land one owns and social assistance are integrated; and the support system of "five guarantees", namely food, clothing, medical care, housing and burial expenses, has been further improved. As a result, 3.815 million infirm and childless rural elderly people have been well looked after. More social aid has been provided for and still better work has been done to the rural aged. And insurance for the aged has been actively explored in some rural areas. Fifty-five million rural farmers have bought insurance policies and approximately 2.5 million insured farmers now begin to draw their monthly old-age pensions.

By People Daily Online