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Over 7% of Chinese age 65 or above
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-10-10 08:51
More than seven percent of China's total population age 65 or above, which
has posed a big problem to the country's work for the aged, said a senior
Chinese official Sunday.
"The aging problem has come around not only
somewhat earlier but also developed rapidly," said Hui Liangyu, vice premier of
the State Council, or the Chinese cabinet.
Currently, the number of the Chinese who age 60 or above has accounted for
more than 10 percent of the total Chinese population, said Hui, who made the
remarks when paying a visit to a local beadhouse to mark the coming traditional
Chinese "Sept. 9" festival (in lunar calendar), a special day for respecting the
old which falls on Oct. 11.
"The aging issue will bring about deep impact on the economy, society,
culture and other fields of China," he said, citing the issue as of strategic
importance which will influence the country's overall economic and social
development.
"We should study and introduce more policies so as to solve the problems
rendered by the aging issue and form an atmosphere that stresses respecting and
loving the old," he said.
Noting the thousand-year-old custom as one of the key virtues left from
ancient China, Hui said letting the old enjoy the fruits of China's development
is an important part of the ongoing process of building a comprehensively
well-off society in China.
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