In an ambitious move to make basic welfare more accessible, the central government will issue social security cards for everyone on the mainland.
The cards, which can double as bank cards, are issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security with the co-operation of the central bank, the People's Bank of China.
The programme, currently in pilot form, will dwarf that for identity cards. ID cards, issued by the public security authorities, are for residents aged 16 and above, but the social security cards are to be for all.
Although a person's social security card will have the same number as their ID card, the functions of the two are not to be merged soon, said Hu Xiaoyi, vice-minister of human resources and social security.
In the future, Hu said, the social security card would take on more functions, such as for claiming retirement, unemployment, work-injury and maternity benefits.
In a pilot programme, now being extended, about 145 million new social security cards have been issued in 170 cities, according to official data from the end of July. The mainland has more than 360 cities.
According to the nation's 12th five-year plan, which covers the period from 2011 to 2015, up to 800 million cards will be issued, covering 60 per cent of the mainland population. The rest will be issued after that.