The China Association of Social Workers (CASW), a non-governmental organization, has launched a large-scale project to care for the elderly in Beijing on Wednesday.

According to the CASW's plan, about 20 centers for the service for the elderly will be set up in provinces with large populations of old people in the next five to eight years.

All the centers will have facilities for senior citizens' housing, entertainment and recovery, sources with the CASW said.

Under this project, an elderly service network will be set up and forums spreading health care knowledge for the senior citizens will be held regularly.

"The long-term promotion of the project is arduous, but it will certainly be significant in developing a better system of elderly service in the country," said Zhou Tienong, vice-president of the association.

The total number of Chinese citizens aged above 60 in 2007 has jumped from 126 million to 149 million, or 11.3 percent of the total population, according to a report released at the end of last year by the China Elderly Work Committee Office.

(Xinhua News Agency January 25, 2008)