Chinese families and communities will be encouraged to do more to support the elderly, while the government promotes development of elderly care services over the next five years, according to an official document released Wednesday.

China's aging population would increase in the five years from 2011 to 2015, said the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee's Proposal for Formulating the 12th Five-Year Program for China's Economic and Social Development (2011-2015).

The government would bring the roles of family and community into full play in supporting the aged, said the document, which was adopted at the Fifth Plenum of the 17th CPC Central Committee.

It would also encourage the development of a thriving elderly care service industry with favorable policies, said the document.

The government would stick to the fundamental strategy of family planning with gradually improved policies for balanced long-term demographic development, it said.

The country would strive to curb the gender imbalance in newborns and improve their health, further promote equality of men and women and better protect minors, it said.

(Xinhua News Agency October 28, 2010)