BEIJING: The Double Ninth Festival, observed on October 29 this year according to the Chinese lunar calendar, reminds the nation of the importance of ensuring that its senior citizens enjoy a happy and fulfilling later life in an aging society.
From warm gestures to structural reforms, China’s leadership has repeatedly emphasized respect and care for the elderly. President Xi Jinping has consistently prioritized the well-being of older citizens. During his visits across the country, he often stops by nursing homes and community centers to talk with seniors and learn firsthand about their living conditions.
In November 2018, when Xi visited a community elderly nursery center in Shanghai, he said as Chinese society ages, “it is our common wish that elderly people lead a happy, healthy and long life.”
This commitment is reflected in policy. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China has prioritized elderly care and preparation for an aging society, urging all levels of government and society to develop a system where senior citizens are respected, cared for, and can live happily in their later years. Demographic data highlights the urgency of such policies. By the end of 2024, China’s population aged 60 and older had reached approximately 310 million, making up 22 percent of the total population, while those aged 65 and above numbered around 220 million, or 15.6 percent.
In response, China is quickly expanding eldercare infrastructure and services. During a press conference earlier this month, Minister of Civil Affairs Lu Zhiyuan mentioned that China has fully developed a national basic elderly care service system and finalized the top-level design for reform and development in this area.
A Chinese-style elderly care system tailored to national conditions is being rapidly developed, with a continuously improving supply structure, according to Lu. By the end of 2024, the country had 406,000 elderly care institutions and facilities offering 7.99 million beds, with the proportion of nursing-care beds increasing from 48 percent in 2020 to 65.7 percent.
“Over the past five years, a number of practical initiatives for the elderly have been successfully implemented,” Lu said.
These include adapting 2.24 million homes to accommodate elderly people with special needs, establishing 500 model community-based elderly care service networks, creating 2,990 model age-friendly communities, and developing 86,000 senior meal assistance centers that serve over 3 million elderly people daily, he added.
Alongside service delivery, China is also focusing on its silver economy as a policy priority and economic opportunity. The elder-care market is currently valued at about 7 trillion yuan and is expected to grow to nearly 30 trillion yuan by 2035. –The Daily Mail-CGTN news exchange item
