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Growing problem for China: aging population
www.chinanews.cn 2005-10-11 09:19:27
(Source: China Daily)
Elderly Chinese women perform in a community in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang
Autonomous Region Monday October 10, 2005. The performance was part of
the activities in celebration of the Chongyang Festival. [Xinhua]
Oct.11 - They looked youthful and healthy. They were graceful and
energetic as they sang, danced and even strutted on the catwalk. They
have even performed abroad.
If you did not look closely, you would not have believed that they were
senior citizens - the oldest was 81 - putting on a performance to mark a
traditional Chinese festival honouring the elderly.
Sunday night's celebration was to mark the Chongyang Festival, which
falls today, on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month.
However, their zest and zeal could not hide the fact that the country
faces a growing problem with a greying population.
"The ageing problem has come to the fore not only earlier (than
anticipated) but has also come about rapidly," said Hui Liangyu,
vice-premier of the State Council, the Chinese cabinet, while paying a
visit to a home for the aged in Beijing to mark the festival, Xinhua News
Agency reported.
The number of citizens above the age of 60 will increase from the current
147 million to 174 million in 2010, representing about one-eighth (12.57
per cent) of the total population at that time. And in 2020, the number
is expected to reach 243 million, accounting for one-sixth (or 17 per
cent), according to figures from China's National Committee of Ageing.
The infrastructure and social services for the elderly do not meet the
demand, said Li Bengong, vice-director of China's National Committee of
Ageing, at a recent workshop on the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-10).
For example, the pension system for senior urban citizens needs to be
improved while there is not even one in place for rural people, he said.
Also, about half of people aged over 65 have hypertension, or high blood
pressure, which poses a threat not only to their lives but also to
economic and social development, an expert said on Sunday.
"Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases have become the No 1 killer,
and high blood pressure is the foremost cause of the diseases," Hong
Zhaoguang, a consultant with the Ministry of Health, was quoted by Xinhua
as saying.
Hui, discussing the issue of ageing, said: "It will have a deep impact on
the economy, society, culture and other areas."
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