China adopts law to strengthen social assistance system

Elderly residents gather to learn the popular AI model DeepSeek at a nursing home in east China's Shanghai on Feb. 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's top legislature on Thursday voted to adopt a law on social assistance, aimed at strengthening basic living support and providing a stronger safety net for vulnerable groups.

The law was passed after its third reading at a legislative session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, which runs from Monday to Thursday.

The law will take effect on July 1, 2026.

With 78 articles in seven chapters, the law sets out general provisions, beneficiaries and types of assistance, assistance procedures, participation of social forces, supervision and safeguards, legal liabilities, and others.

The social assistance law, a foundational piece of social security legislation, provides solid legal guarantees to promote the development of high-quality social assistance and ensure that all Chinese people benefit from the country's reform and development.