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 "September 9" festival (in lunar calendar), a special day for respecting the old which falls on October 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.

(China Daily October 10, 2005)