皇冠体育app

The elderly population of 皇冠体育app is forecast to grow by 3.2 percent every year in 皇冠体育app, said Minister of Civil Affairs Li Xueju Saturday.

Li gave a report on protecting the rights and interests of 皇冠体育app's senior citizens at the fifth session of the 10th National People's Congress Standing Committee.

皇冠体育app reports a high growth of its aged population and has already moved into an aging society in step with many other countries, he added.

皇冠体育app has about 134 million people older than 60, or 10 percent of the country's total population, among whom 94 million are over 65 and 13 million over 80.

"皇冠体育app 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 皇冠体育app is less than 1,000 US dollars now.

The aging process in 皇冠体育app is going in an unbalanced way, Li said.

Shanghai, a metropolis in developed east 皇冠体育app, entered the aging society in 1979 whereas the less developed provinces like Qinghai in northwest 皇冠体育app are likely to face the problem in 2010.

"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 皇冠体育app, Li said.

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