ILO supports actuarial work in social security in China through technical training

Beijing (ILO News) – The International Labour Organization (ILO) successfully organized an actuarial training in social security, benefiting nearly 40 actuarial staff from the Social Insurance Administration (SIA) and other relevant departments of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of China (MOHRSS), and the Ministry of Finance (MOF). The training was held in Beijing from 22 to 25 April 2025, organized within the context of the “Improving China’s Institutional Capacity towards Universal Social Protection (Phase 2)” Project, funded by the European Union.

© ILO

© ILO

The three-and-a-half-day training focused on the application of social security actuarial analysis to enhance participants' actuarial work capabilities and provide valuable experience for China's pension policy reform. The participants trained are expected to be equipped with up-to-date knowledge to better support the actuarial work of MOHRSS and MOF and better inform upcoming reforms regarding old-age pension in China. The training builds on the continuous technical support provided by the Project in the past years, including an actuarial training organized in May 2023 in Yixing City, Jiangsu Province.

I am confident that through this training, all participants will enhance their theoretical knowledge and practical skills, which will be of great help in their future actuarial work.

-- JIANG Wei, Deputy Director-General Level Official, International Cooperation Department, MOHRSS

By conducting deeper and more systematic actuarial analysis at the micro level, actuarial work in social security actively contributes to earlier and more effective policy decisions at the macro level.

-- HE Xiaozhou, Director-General Level Official, Social Insurance Administration, MOHRSS

We are convinced that it will be important to continue sharing experiences and approaches from the European Union and its Member States with China.

-- Ellen KELLY, Development Counsellor, Head of Cooperation, Delegation of the European Union to China

I would like to encourage the members of the MOHRSS Actuarial Technical Team present here today, to apply the knowledge gathered during this training in your daily work. This will help to ensure the Chinese social security system...can remain financially sustainable in the short, medium and long term.

--Changhee LEE, Director, ILO Country Office for China and Mongolia

During the training, representatives from three EU Member States, namely Latvia, Sweden, and Germany, were invited to present the recent reforms introduced in their old-age pension schemes. They showcased how actuarial projections supported evidence-based policy adjustments to ensure the adequacy and sustainability of their pensions schemes in the medium and long term. The training facilitated interactive discussions and group work. Final presentations and a quiz session were organized on the third day to test and reinforce the knowledge learned.

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© ILO

The training was very well received by MOHRSS and MOF participants. At the closing session, HE Xiaozhou appreciated the useful and practical tools and methods provided during the training and acknowledged its effectiveness.

© ILO

© ILO

MOHRSS and ILO have established a strong partnership in social security. To ensure the high-quality development of China's social security system, it is essential to enhance actuarial techniques and use actuarial valuations to support the research and adjustment of social security policies. ILO will remain available to support further actuarial training for MOHRSS to strengthening its internal capacity to conduct robust and regular actuarial valuations.

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© ILO