Making an effort to overhaul the social security system

Editor's note: As the five-year China-EU Social Security Reform Cooperation Project (EUCSS) plays an active role in advancing the country's reforms in social security system, Matthias Reusing, second secretary, Co-operation Section of the EU Delegation to China and Mongolia, and Lu Jianshe, acting project director of EUCSS, share their insights into the project with China Daily.

The project has been piloted in both developed parts of eastern China and in less developed areas. In view of the immense economic differences in the two areas, how can the social security system be evenly applied nationwide?

Lu: To promote a nationwide balance, social insurance systems should aim at raising the levels of pooling. In a nationwide pool it would be much easier to balance strengths and weaknesses. In provincial level pools you can balance differences between richer and poorer municipalities. Raised pooling levels would also facilitate the treatment of migrant workers' entitlements.