Boost to cultural facilities for elderly

A proposal was issued on Thursday to further boost the construction of cultural facilities for senior citizens and effectively cope with the aging society, the China National Committee on Aging said.

The proposal was jointly made by 16 departments, including the Organization Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Ministry of Culture and the CNCA.

Zhu Yong, vice-director of the CNCA, said that in 2013 more than 200 million people in China will be 60 or older. By 2025, that figure will have risen to 300 million.

In 2053, China will have 487 million people over 60, or 34.8 percent of the country's total population, Zhu said, adding that the present percentage of senior citizens is 13.7 percent.

"China is currently witnessing the healthy and positive development of senior culture," Zhu said. "However, seniors still need more attention as well as more cultural products and services."

The proposal urged society to respect the social value of the aged, provide more activities for senior citizens, and to care for them.

The proposal also suggested soundly configuring cultural resources in urban and rural areas and providing mental health services to empty-nesters, the disabled and left-behind elders in rural areas.

In addition, public cultural service facilities, including museums, art galleries, memorial halls and public libraries, should provide free or preferential entrance tickets for senior citizens, the proposal said.