Farmers pick fresh apples at the Weihai Agriculture Demonstration Base in Rongcheng City, Shandong Province.  Photo: Yang Zhili/CNS

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The report to the 20th CPC National Congress included special sections discussing major issues regarding the improvement of people’s wellbeing and quality of life. The discussion covers distribution systems, employment, social security, and the building of a healthy China. They also raise new requirements for preserving and improving people’s wellbeing in the next five years, and up until 2035. 

Social security system improved 

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the social security system in China has undergone continuous improvement, and financial input in this sector steadily increases. Gradually, a system that is based on social insurance, social assistance, and social welfare, and that focuses on basic elderly insurance, medical care, and a minimum living guarantee has been formed. This system with unique Chinese characteristics is the world’s largest social security system. By the end of 2021, 1.03 billion Chinese people had been covered by basic elderly insurance and 1.36 billion by basic medical insurance. In addition, the number of urban and rural residents receiving subsistence allowances reached 7.377 million and 34.742 million, respectively. Social security has also played an indispensable role in poverty alleviation. 

While remarkable results have been made in eradicating absolute poverty and fostering shared development, China’s social security still faces some problems requiring urgent resolution, caused in part by high mobility of citizens, diverse forms of employment, and greater population aging. The report made specific plans for boosting a sustainable multi-tiered social security system. Measures include improving social welfare for women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. It is also emphasized that housing is for living in and not for speculation. Furthermore, China will move faster to build a housing system featuring multiple suppliers and various channels of support that encourages both home ownership and rental. 

People’s health as a priority 

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee has placed greater priority on safeguarding health of the population. Guidelines for healthcare in the new era have been set, and there is also a call for promoting the building of a “healthy China.” Equity and accessibility of basic medical and health services have seen continuous improvement, with China’s average life expectancy in 2021 rising by nearly four years over the past decade to 78.2 years. Major health indicators are among the highest in middle-and high-income countries. China has built the world’s largest medical and health system, with a service network covering both urban and rural areas. This has effectively alleviated residents’ medical treatment burden. 

The proportion of residents’ personal health expenditures within the total health expenditure decreased from 34.3% in 2012 to 27.7% in 2021. Continuous expansion of medical and health services in totality and improved quality of medical care have provided important guarantees for people’s health. 

The report stated that, “We will develop new mechanisms for enhancing collaboration and integration between hospitals and institutions for disease prevention and control. We will also improve the public health system, improve our early warning system for major epidemics, and strengthen the systems for epidemic prevention, control, and treatment as well as our emergency response capacity so as to effectively contain major infectious diseases.” 

Benefits of development shared by all 

 There is no limit to ensuring and improving people’s wellbeing. On the new journey, it is of paramount importance to ensure that the people enjoy a happy life. We must always ensure that development is for the people, by the people, and that the benefits of development are shared by the people. We must ensure that the fruits of China’s modernization benefit all citizens in a fair and equitable way, to ultimately achieve common prosperity. 

Yang Sui is deputy director and associate fellow of the Poverty and Welfare Department under the Rural Development Institute at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. 

Edited by BAI LE