A: We have noticed that the number of people above the
age of 60 in China has exceeded 100 million, accounting for more
than 10 percent of the total population. This shows that China has
become an aging society. What measures has the Chinese Government
taken to ensure the elderly have a pleasant life in their later
years?
At the beginning of the 21st century, China became listed among
countries with an aging population. According to statistics, 130
million people are above the age of 60, accounting for more than 10
percent of the country's total population; by the year 2025, the
number will grow to 280 million, accounting for 18.4 percent; and
by the year2050, the number will be around 400 million, accounting
for more than 25 percent.
In order to realize the UN's development goal of "A Society for
All Ages," the Chinese Government has promulgated the Law on the
Protection of Elderly People's Rights and Interests, which is
intended to integrate issues concerning the aged into overall
social and economic development planning. As a result, the
government has begun to play a leading role in affairs concerning
the elderly, with the participation of all social sectors.
Since China has a large elderly population, it's impossible to
carry out welfare policies as in some developed countries. Thus,
based on its national condition, China can only put into practice a
policy that requires the state, society, families and individuals
to share the responsibility.
In traditional Chinese culture, it's an obligation for adult
children to support their elderly parents, so most senior people
spend their later years living with their families. This has helped
to spare the state a significant amount of funds and keep the
stability of society. It has also contributed to a happy life for
older people. At the same time, the development of community
services to support the aged has been accelerated in urban areas.
This is a good practice as the elderly people can live close to
their children, and neighbors in the same community are encouraged
to help each other. In rural areas, the life of older people is
similarly assured through the support of their families and society
at large.
In many places, special measures have been taken to assist poor
elderly and the senile, with a view to ensuring that older people
with low incomes or without incomes have a basic standard of
living. In terms of medical care, great efforts have been made to
meet the basic medical requirements of older people. The basic
medical insurance scheme for employees and workers in urban areas
is being improved, establishing a multilateral medicare system. In
rural areas, efforts are being made to develop a new type of
cooperative medical care and health service system, which has
helped improve the medical care of poor elderly people.
Moreover, China has improved the working system for the aged,
and stepped up the construction of a community-based service
network. Community clinics, nursing homes, activity centers as well
as entertainment squares for older people are being developed,
through which all kinds of cultural and sports activities have been
carried out, encouraging the aged to take part in social
activities.
Over the past 15 years, while older people's material lives have
been improved, their cultural lives are being enriched. The
development of senior citizen-related welfare, education, cultural
and sports activities, medical care and health service has provided
a better quality of life for the aged, creating a good environment
for people in their later years.
At the same time, we should never neglect the fact that China
became a society with an aging population while its economy
remained underdeveloped. The large number and the rapid growth of
the aging population have brought about lots of difficulties for
social support of the aged. The key to solving the problems
accruing with the swelling numbers of senior citizens lies in
developing the economy.