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Aged Chinese to increase by 3.2 percent yearly
The
elderly population of Li
gave a report on protecting the rights and interests of "China
has become an aging society but is not rich enough to cope with it,"
said Li, adding that most developed countries step into an aging society
with per capita GDP from 5,000 to 10,000 US dollars whereas that in China
is less than 1,000 US dollars now. The
aging process in "An
aging society has unfavorable influence on economic development," he
said. The
government spending on pension and welfare for the elderly in 2000 was
about five times as much as in 1982. A
number of aged people are still facing difficulties in their daily life.
Some urban elderly people failed to enjoy basic health care and pension
while the situation is even worse in the rural areas. "To
better protect the rights and interests of aged people, the government
will improve basic health care services for them and guarantee pensions to
be paid on time and in full," Li said. The
central government will invest more government funds in providing
residence and health care services for poor old people, who still account
for a considerable portion of the needy population in Copyright
© 2002 Global Action on Aging |