Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Thursday called for the steady and orderly implementation of the reform regarding gradually raising the statutory retirement age to provide critical support for advancing Chinese modernization.

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks during a State Council meeting on mobilizing efforts for the reform.

Li said the reform aligns with the objective requirement to proactively address an aging population and promote high-quality population development, as well as the practical necessity for fully unleashing talent dividends and facilitating Chinese modernization.

He noted that the reform is a significant move to improve the social security system and better safeguard and improve people's livelihoods.

The Chinese premier emphasized adhering to the principle of voluntary participation and flexibility in implementing the delayed retirement policy and ensuring that it truly reflects employees' intentions.

He called for the prompt formulation and improvement of supporting policies and measures, noting that policies that need to directly align with the reform plan should be introduced and implemented as early as possible.

Li said that expanding employment should be a crucial measure supporting the reform's advancement. He stressed implementing and refining employment policies for college graduates and other young people while ensuring the protection of workers' rights and interests.

He also called for concrete efforts to strengthen old-age security and services, effective implementation of policies to raise basic pensions for urban and rural residents and retirees, and enhancing the coordination and adjustment of pension insurance at the national level.

Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice premier of the State Council, and State Councilor Wu Zhenglong attended the meeting. State Councilor Shen Yiqin presided over the meeting.

According to a decision adopted by Chinese lawmakers last week, the statutory retirement age will be gradually raised from 60 to 63 for men over the course of 15 years from 2025, from 55 to 58 for women working as cadres, and from 50 to 55 for women who are blue-collar workers.

China's current statutory retirement age was set in the 1950s and has remained unchanged for more than seven decades.

(With input from Xinhua)