China has just released figures that show more than 700 million residents have joined the social endowment insurance, and the national minimum salary has increased by 12 percent. The figures come from the annual work conference of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security starting Tuesday. Other Issues such as employment, social security and medical reform are also discussed.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security annual work conference, gave the public detailed statistics and projections.

In the job sector, China plans to put an extra 9 million people into employment in urban areas this year. The actual figure way surpassed the goal. By the end of November, more than 12 million people were added to the payroll.

Meanwhile, the national minimum salary has risen by more than 12 percent.

Seven million college students will graduate next year, making the job market even more competitive. New measures have been taken to encourage students to set up their own businesses.

Xin Changxing, deputy head of Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, said, "We will create a loose environment for the graduate students to set up their own businesses and relevant policies should back them. We have set up 15 demonstration bases, especially for those who don't have any experience."

As for the social insurance, China has set up the social insurance system, covering the largest number of people in the world.

760 million people have joined the urban and rural residents social endowment insurance while 1.3 billion people have joined the basic medical insurance system.

For the next year, more efforts will be taken to make the social insurance system fairer.

Hu Xiaoyi, deputy head of Human Resources and Social Security Ministry, said, "First of all, the social insurance system should cover all Chinese people. It's not fair that some people have while others don't. Now we plan to reform the pension system and the public health service system, and will seek opinions from the public."

The government has made it clear that one of their main tasks is to improve the quality of people's lives. And many are expecting a change.

(CNTV.cn December 18, 2012)