Annual investment return of China's social security fund reaches 7 pct

China's social security fund recorded an annual average investment return rate of 7.36 percent, according to a report released by the National Council for Social Security Fund on Saturday.

The national social security fund is the national strategic reserve fund for social security in China, used to supplement and reallocate social security expenditures such as pension insurance during periods of increased elderly population.

According to the report, by the end of 2023, the total assets of the national social security fund was 3014.56 billion yuan (about 426.62 billion U.S. dollars), with investment income of 25.01 billion yuan (about 3.54 billion U.S. dollars) and an investment return rate of 0.96 percent.

Since its establishment, the fund has achieved an average annual investment return rate of 7.36 percent, with a total investment income of 1,682.58 billion yuan (about 238.12 billion U.S. dollars).

In terms of investment methods and scope, the social security fund adopts a combination of direct investment and entrusted investment for its investment operations, according to the report.

Approved domestic investment categories include bank deposits, bonds, trust loans, asset securitization products, stocks, securities investment funds, equities, and equity investment funds.

Approved overseas investment categories include bank deposits, bank notes, large negotiable certificates of deposit and other currency market products, bonds, stocks, and securities investment funds, said the report.

In 2023, due to various domestic and international factors, the capital market experienced increased volatility, said the report.

The National Council for Social Security Fund increased positions in the domestic stock market as the valuation advantages became more prominent, laying the foundation for achieving better returns in the medium to long term, said the report, adding that it also played a constructive role in stabilizing confidence and expectations in the capital market.

Meanwhile, the council has been monitoring the changing landscape, optimizing its overall asset allocation, and increasing investments in fixed-income assets to spread risks.

In 2023, the fund recorded favorable investment returns, showing the effectiveness of its diversified asset allocation strategy, said the report.

Annual investment return of China's social security fund reaches 7 pct

China has established more than 5,500 green mines at or above the provincial level, marking positive progress in the country's green mining development, an official from the Ministry of Natural Resources said at a news conference in Beijing on Tuesday ahead of this year's World Earth Day.

According to Dong Qingji, deputy director general of the Ministry of Natural Resources' department of mineral resources protection and supervision, green mining requirements have been written into the Mineral Resources Law and the Ecological Environment Code, providing strong legal backing. A working system featuring government guidance, departmental coordination, enterprise leadership and public supervision is now largely in place.

China is accelerating the construction of green mines and will organize the selection of a new batch of national-level green mines. Currently, there are over 1,000 national-level green mines and more than 4,500 provincial-level green mines in the country.

Looking ahead, the ministry will continue to promote the construction and operation of all newly built mines in accordance with green mine standards, while speeding up the green transformation and upgrading of existing operating mines. For mines that have not yet initiated green transition, they are required to launch green mine construction as soon as possible, fulfill their obligations for ecological restoration in mining areas, and strengthen ecological restoration and governance in these areas.

China builds over 5,500 green mines, advances sustainable mining