English 中文网 漫画网 爱新闻iNews 翻译论坛
中国网站品牌栏目(频道)
当前位置: Language Tips> 天天读报> 每日播报

Expert calls to reform social security

[ 2009-03-02 13:47]     字号 [] [] []  
免费订阅30天China Daily双语新闻手机报:移动用户编辑短信CD至106580009009

进入英语学习论坛下载音频

Premier Wen Jiabao is "very likely" to ask legislators to review his cabinet's proposal to significantly boost social security spending at the annual session of the National People's Congress this week, said a think tank researcher close to China's highest decision-making body.

"My understanding is the leadership has achieved a consensus that to greatly improve social welfare is a long-term strategy to help reduce the impact of the global financial crisis," said Bi Jiyao, senior researcher for the National Development and Reform Commission, a cabinet department for designing and implementing economic and social policies.

"This is a big strategy along with our bold stimulus plans to boost domestic investment," said Bi, who revealed the consensus during an exclusive interview after he was invited to give a lecture on the global economic environment to the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau on February 23.

"We can expect more bold action soon and it is high time for us to take such steps," he said. "Sound social security can gradually help people feel assured not to save but spend, and that will finally help restructure China's economy, cut the high saving ratio and boost consumption."

Bi urged the government to restructure its fiscal spending mix and warned: "The ratio of social security spending to the total fiscal package is too low and we should take quick action to improve it."

Amid the deepening financial crisis and the urgency to boost domestic consumption, social welfare is a hot debate among China's economists and think tanks. An expert panel led by China Development Research Foundation published a report last week saying China has the fiscal capacity to bring all its citizens under the social security umbrella by 2020.

Based on the price level in 2007, the panel said the government should invest about 5.74 trillion yuan ($839 billion) from its total fiscal revenues by 2020 to establish a complete social security network.

However, Bi insisted only "basic social welfare" should be offered to people, given the fiscal capacity and big population. "And I personally suggest a pension system and medical care should be high on the government's agenda, compared with other social welfare benefits such as education and housing," he added.

Bi said all citizens should enjoy basic social welfare, with the benchmark of such benefits gradually improved, and added: "Personal social welfare accounts should be transferred from region to region to help encourage labor flow nationwide."

At the moment, each province, municipality and autonomous region has its own social insurance requirements and are unwilling to transfer insurance fees when laborers plan to move to other provinces. "That barrier should be removed as soon as possible," said Bi.

(英语点津 Helen 编辑)

Expert calls to reform social security

About the broadcaster:

Expert calls to reform social securityBernice Chan is a foreign expert at China Daily Website. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Bernice has written for newspapers and magazines in Hong Kong and most recently worked as a broadcaster for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, producing current affairs shows and documentaries.

 
中国日报网英语点津版权说明:凡注明来源为“中国日报网英语点津:XXX(署名)”的原创作品,除与中国日报网签署英语点津内容授权协议的网站外,其他任何网站或单位未经允许不得非法盗链、转载和使用,违者必究。如需使用,请与010-84883631联系;凡本网注明“来源:XXX(非英语点津)”的作品,均转载自其它媒体,目的在于传播更多信息,其他媒体如需转载,请与稿件来源方联系,如产生任何问题与本网无关;本网所发布的歌曲、电影片段,版权归原作者所有,仅供学习与研究,如果侵权,请提供版权证明,以便尽快删除。
 

关注和订阅

人气排行

翻译服务

中国日报网翻译工作室

我们提供:媒体、文化、财经法律等专业领域的中英互译服务
电话:010-84883468
邮件:translate@chinadaily.com.cn