The Chinese government’s improvements to the nation’s welfare system have been recognized by International Social Security Association.

Association President Errol Frank Stoové presented China with the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Social Security (2014-2016).

“China has made unprecedented progress in the development of its social security system in the past decade and has successfully extended pension, health and other forms of coverage for the benefit of its population through a combination of sustained government commitment and significant administrative innovations,” Stoové said.

China’s endowment insurance covers more than 870 million, while 1.3 billion have access to medical insurance.

Insurance for work injuries, unemployment and fertility also covers 216 million, 178 million and 187 million, respectively.

China’s population is about 1.4 billion, one fifth of the world’s total.

In this year’s government work report, Premier Li Keqiang said the government would make sure all residents have access to critical illness insurance by the end of the year.

He said efforts to improve China’s social safety net would continue to further ease the burden on the needy.

During inspections, Premier Li would often check with local residents that the social security reform was well implemented at grassroots level and whether both urban and rural residents had equal access to services.

The Premier has time and again emphasized that the social safety net should also cover entrepreneurs who have failed, so that they are able to get funds to restart their businesses, which will better stimulate social vitality and creativity.