ZHENG Gongcheng: Supporting China's Path to Modernization and Pursuit of Common Prosperity with a High-Quality Social Security System

During the 2024 Two Sessions, China Social Security Magazine interviewed Zheng Gongcheng, a member of the 10th NPC Standing Committee, President of China Association of Social Security, research fellow of National Academy of Development and Strategy and professor of the School of Labor and Human Resources, Renmin University of China, on the topics of China’s path to modernization, the pursuit of common prosperity, and the distinctive Chinese social security system. The key points of the interview are summarized as follows:

In China’s path to modernization, creating a new system of social security with Chinese characteristics is an urgent task. This process needs to be based on the path of socialist modernization with Chinese characteristics, placing the people at the center and aiming to achieve comprehensive human development and common prosperity for all. To achieve this goal, social security cannot be limited to redistribution alone; it requires the construction of a coordinated system that includes primary, secondary, and tertiary distribution, fully leveraging Chinese strengths such as centralized efforts for major tasks, family support, and social mutual assistance. These are advantages distinct from those of Western-style modernized nations.

In addition, the practical effects serve as objective criteria for evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of a system. It is necessary to strengthen the mutual assistance and solidarity functions of the social security system, as well as its redistribution efforts and sustainable development capabilities.

In terms of basic pension insurance and elderly care services, it is necessary to coordinate and promote the reform and development of different groups’ systems, reconstruct the funding mechanisms for statutory arrangements, and accelerate the achievement of nationwide coordination. At the same time, efforts should be expedited in developing the elderly care service industry, promoting mutual assistance in elderly care, and fostering a public-private partnership model for elderly care services to meet the diverse needs of the elderly population.

Overall, the development path of the new system of social security with Chinese characteristics requires comprehensive progress in institutional design, effectiveness evaluation of implementation, and elderly care services. This is necessary to meet the requirements of China’s path to modernization and to provide solid guarantees for the comprehensive development and common prosperity of the people.

(Translated by ZHANG Yuqing; Proofread by YANG Fanxin)