China addresses aging issues

WATCH VIDEO

Source: CCTV.com | 12-12-2006 13:50

China is facing the growing challenge of the ageing population. And the Chinese government will adopt more effective strategies in order to enable senior citizens to share the fruits of economic and social development. This is according to a white paper published on Tuesday. ( Full Text >> )

The white paper illustrates how the government dealt with an aging population China's development of its undertakings for the aged over the past two decades and its plans for the near future.

According to the white paper, by the end of 2005, China had nearly 144 million people aged over 60, accounting for 11% of its entire population. It poses a big challenge to the government on how to guarantee the legitimate rights and interests of the elderly people.

In recent years, the Chinese government has gradually established a uniform basic old-age insurance system in urban areas. The white paper says that by the end of 2005, the number of people participating in the basic old-age insurance scheme across

China had reached 175 million, 43.67 million of whom were retirees.At present, the population of senior citizens in China is growing by 3% every year.

Editor:Ji Xuewen