The preservation and appreciation of social security funds are closely related to the vital interests of the vast number of insured persons, and are important measures to improve the long-term support capacity of the funds and promote the high-quality and sustainable development of social security undertakings. At the series of themed press conferences on "High quality Completion of the 14th Five Year Plan" held by the State Council Information Office on September 26, Li Zhong, Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, introduced that during the 14th Five Year Plan period, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (hereinafter referred to as "the Ministry") has always adhered to safety as the premise, compliance as the bottom line, and actively promoted the improvement of social security fund investment and operation policies and the establishment of a sound investment supervision system in conjunction with relevant departments, in accordance with the principles of standardized, stable, professional, and market-oriented operation. Especially since last year, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security has actively implemented the decision and deployment to promote the entry of medium and long-term funds into the market, helping to do a good job in pension finance. One is to achieve steady appreciation of the basic pension insurance fund. During the 14th Five Year Plan period, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security continued to expand the scale of entrusted investment, improve investment returns, and solidly carry out various tasks related to the entrusted investment and operation of the basic pension insurance fund. At present, the investment and operation scale of the basic pension insurance fund is 2.6 trillion yuan, which has doubled compared to the end of the 13th Five Year Plan period. Since the basic pension insurance fund started investment and operation at the end of 2016, it has achieved positive returns for 8 consecutive years, with an average annual investment return rate of 5.15%, effectively achieving the goal of preserving and increasing value. Secondly, the scale of enterprise (occupational) pension funds continues to expand. Enterprise (occupational) pension is an important component of the multi-level social security system, and the investment and operation status of the fund directly affects the role of the second pillar. During the 14th Five Year Plan period, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security will continue to improve the relevant systems for pension fund investment and operation from the aspects of standardizing fund operation and management, strengthening risk prevention and control, enhancing information disclosure, and improving long-term assessment mechanisms. At present, the scale of enterprise (occupational) pension funds has reached 7.56 trillion yuan, an increase of 4.02 trillion yuan from the end of the 13th Five Year Plan period. During the 14th Five Year Plan period, the investment income of enterprise (occupational) pension funds exceeded 756 billion yuan. Thirdly, reserve funds provide long-term protection. Establishing a national social security fund and implementing the transfer of state-owned capital to enrich the social security fund are important measures for China to actively respond to population aging and enhance the sustainability of the pension insurance system. During the 14th Five Year Plan period, the national social security fund continued to grow and strengthen, and the transfer and enrichment of state-owned equity to undertake and operate the social security fund were steadily promoted. As of the end of August, the national social security fund, which serves as a long-term reserve, has a scale of 3.22 trillion yuan. Since its establishment in 2000, its average annual investment return rate has been 7.55%. In addition, the central government has transferred 2.26 trillion yuan of state-owned capital and cash income to enrich the social security fund. These funds will play a positive role in further enhancing the sustainability of the social security system. Li Zhong stated that in the next step, the scale of fund operation will steadily expand. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security will further improve the social security fund's value preservation and appreciation and safety supervision system, firmly hold the safety bottom line, and ensure that the fund achieves long-term stable value preservation and appreciation. (New Society)