Zhang told a news conference on the sidelines of the on-going first sessions of the 10th National People's Congress and the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference that China has made considerable progress in improving its social security system.

He said that major achievements in this respect include:

-- A major labor restructuring during the transition from a planned economy to a market one has been basically completed;

-- Efforts have been made to provide basic living means to people with difficulties;

-- The pension system has been continuously improved;

-- The traditional labor protection medicare and free medicare systems have been replaced with a basic medicare insurance system;

-- The pilot project for improving social security system in Liaoning Province has made breakthrough;

-- Employment policies are being actively formulated;

-- Diversified financing channels have been developed to reinforce social insurance funds; and,

-- More and more people have been covered by social insurance.

(Xinhua News Agency March 12, 2003)