China's Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang on Monday called for stronger management of social security funds and more efforts to maintain and increase the value of the funds.

Given the social security funds had a great bearing on people's livelihoods, management should abide by the rules of prudence to ensure the safety of the assets, said Zhang at a meeting held by the National Council for Social Security Funds in Beijing.

Meanwhile, Zhang urged that multiple channels must be explored to enlarge the social security funds.

By the end of 2009, the country's social security funds added up to 692.7 billion yuan (101.6 billion U.S. dollars), and the rate of return on investment hit 16.1 percent, the meeting heard.