State shareholders had transferred nearly 65 billion yuan ($9.5 billion) worth of stocks in listed companies to the Social Security Fund (SSF) by March 29, according to a statement from the SSF.

On June 19, 2009, the government ordered 10 percent of state-owned stocks in companies listed after the 2005-06 shareholding reform be transferred to the fund free of charge.

This move was largely designed to shore up the financial position of the fund, a strategic reserve of the country established in August 2000 to meet the future pension needs of an aging population. The SSF obtained capital from the Central Government, sales of lottery tickets and returns on investments. But its capital distress grew in the recent years as more Chinese reached retirement age.

In an effort to address the aging problem, the fund aims to boost its asset portfolio to 2 trillion yuan ($292.9 billion) by 2015 from the current 776.5 billion yuan ($113.7 billion), said Dai Xianglong, Chairman of the National Council for the SSF.

As a long-term value investor, the fund sees the bright prospects presented by the Chinese stock markets, and is also gearing up to spread its wings abroad, said Dai.

"We are planning to build a heavier presence in foreign stocks, bonds as well as unlisted corporate equities," added Dai.