From May 27 to 29th, the Chinese Economic and Social Council of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and the European Economic and Social Council jointly organized the 16th Round Table meeting in Varna, Bulgaria. The theme of the meeting was “Social Security System and Mutual Assistance” and “China-Europe Trade and Investment”. China was represented by the delegation of the CPPCC National Committee and the European Economic and Social Commission, Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Ireland, Croatia, Latvia, Poland and other countries. ZHENG Gongcheng, president of the Chinese Society of Social Security and professor at Renmin University of China, gave a keynote report on social security.

ZHENG spoke highly of social security as an important topic in this report and used it to promote the joint efforts of governments of all countries to strengthen social security cooperation between China and the EU, to avoid duplication of payment, and to effectively protect the social security rights of workers moving across borders. He briefed the participants on China’s social security system framework, social security reform process and achievements, spoke on his experience with China, its accomplishments and issues including imbalanced regional development in the new era, rapid population aging, large-scale population movement and new technological progress. There are many challenges to the new formats and the importance and importance of drawing lessons from Europe. At the same time, he expressed his opinion on the suggestion made by the EU representative that the EU should sign a multilateral agreement on social security with China. He believes that based on differences in national conditions and development stages, it is not easy to implement a multilateral agreement. First, it needs EU member states. The social security system has the basis of unity for consistency. He said that it is necessary to further strengthen social security exchanges and cooperation between China and Europe. Only by enhancing mutual understanding, can we truly understand each other’s social security system, and effectively carry out international cooperation to achieve reduction of corporate costs and maintenance of workers’ welfare benefits, and meet both nations’ goals. In the discussion, ZHENG explained China’s family-centered pension model, social insurance payment status, and specific groups of medical insurance.

While discussing China-EU trade and investment issues, ZHENG made a supplementary statement to the speeches made by the keynote speakers of both China and the EU. He proposed that both China and the EU bear major responsibility for the development of the world today and emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation. The EU needs to understand the rapid development of China, which is the basis for mutual understanding and mutual trust. He said that China has transformed from pursuing high-speed growth to a new era of high-quality development. It has vigorously promoted market fairness and free trade through the establishment of a free trade zone, unified market supervision system, and protection of intellectual property rights, and has established a legislature. Leading legislation, adherence to major reforms, legal evidence, and the establishment of intellectual property courts, Internet courts, financial courts, and other professional courts to comprehensively promote the strategy of governing the country according to law, all of which indicate that China’s reform and opening up is moving toward deeper, and is now free trade in the world, currently a firm defender and active promoter of the system.

After pragmatic negotiations, the meeting adopted a joint statement. The statement reflects the consensus of this meeting and emphasizes that the cooperation between China and the EU in many fields is extensive, in-depth and multi-faceted. It supports each other’s governments in safeguarding human rights, economic, social and cultural rights and promoting the realization of civil rights; protecting the rights and interests of ethnic minorities, women, children, the elderly, and the disabled, including efforts to reduce poverty, improve education, and medical care. The meeting pointed out that the social security system is important for protecting the rights and interests of employees and is an integral part of safeguarding employment. The meeting hopes that China and Europe will continue to strengthen dialogue and cooperation in the field of social security and conduct bilateral discussions on the social security agreement. The meeting calls on the Chinese government to partner with the European Union in promoting the coordination of the social security mechanisms between the two parties, and details that the bilateral agreement or instrument should ensure sufficient social protection for workers to safeguard their rights and interests as far as possible before the perfection of such coordination mechanism between China and the European Union. At the same time, it also called for civil organizations to make positive contributions to promoting practical experience in this area. The meeting decided to submit the joint statement to the 20th China-EU Summit and submit it to the Chinese government and the European Commission.

From May 30th to June 3rd, ZHENG and his entourage went to Ireland to hold a symposium with the Institute of International and European Affairs of Ireland, met with the person in charge of the Irish National Economic and Social Council, and visited the relevant cultural facilities in Ireland.

Original Article From: https://www.ruc.edu.cn/archives/category/englishnews/highlights

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