Aging China: More investment needed to tackle aging population
中国老龄化：应对人口老龄化需要更多的投资
It is estimated that about a third of China's population will be over 60 by 2050. The challenges brought by the nation's aging population are weighing down on Chinese society. Is the country ready to help the elderly go through the last few years of their lives? CGTN's Li Jianhua takes a look.2050年，近1/3的中国人口将超过60岁。人口老龄化所带来的挑战将会成为未来中国社会发展的重要影响因素。国家是否有做好应对人口老龄化的准备呢？
Considered one of the pioneers in taking care of the elderly, this nursing home, sponsored by the Chinese government, is accommodating about 1,300 senior citizens. Nevertheless, it's not easy to get into a nursing home like this due to limited bed availability, as well as China's rising aging population. Many of the disabled are sent here, but more are still waiting in line.
广州市老人院为政府运营项目，目前已经为1300余名长者提供服务。然而，在日趋严峻的老年化趋势和有限的床位供给下，入住该类型机构并非是一件易事。入住的长者大部分行动不便或护理级别较高，而更多的长者依然在排队。
CHANG GUANGCAI DEPUTY DIRECTOR, GUANGZHOU NURSING HOME "Across China, there are not enough beds available; while in some places, there are some beds left empty. This is a structural problem, the needs and demands are not perfectly matched. China has been striving to improve nursing homes' service quality. We do see some progress, but there is an imbalance. Gaps are felt between urban and rural areas in various regions."
“在中国，床位供给形成显著的地区差异，有的地方一床难求，有的地方鲜有人入住。近几年政府致力于提升养老服务水平，取得了显著性的成就。但城镇与乡村之间养老服务水平的矛盾也日益显现。”
Some are switching to privately－owned nursing homes, but the pricing is higher, despite easy access.
伴随着养老服务需求日趋显著，人们将视角转向私营养老机构。私营养老机构虽然需要支付高昂的费用，但进入渠道相对简单。
"Most people are eyeing our high-quality service, especially our medical care facilities and capabilities. More importantly, the elderly can make new friends, and more fully enjoy life. This can help lessen the burden on their children."“大部分老年人对生活品质的追求日趋提高，特别是对于医疗服务的便捷性。更重要地是，老年人们需要建立自己的生活社交圈，享受更多元的精神文化需求，从而为家庭减轻照顾的负担。“
Official figures showed the "over 60" demographic in China surpassed 240 million in 2017.
据统计，超过60岁的老年人在2017年将超过2.4亿。
A third of the Chinese population will be over 60 by 2050 and the costs for elderly care are expected to hit 25 percent of the country's GDP, up from seven percent last year.
1/3的老年人口在2050年将超过60岁。老年护理的花费将达到GDP的25%，超过去年的7%。
Experts believe the industrialization of the elderly care service is a double-edged sword.
专家认为，放开养老服务市场是一把双刃剑。
"Industrialization of the elderly care system can attract more private investment, which could help with the service's distribution to help needs meet demands. The problem is this is not merely an industry; it's also a social service. The total industrialization of this industry would make some excluded from this social service."
“全面放开养老服务市场将会吸引更多的社会资本参与到养老服务领域。该举措能有效地调整供需关系。但养老服务归根到底是社会服务而非商业行为。全面的市场化无法保证社会弱势群体得到相应的福利救助。“
To offset the impact of the aging population in China, authorities allowed couples to have two children starting in 2016.为了降低人口老龄化对未来中国发展趋势的影响，政府从2016年开始“二胎政策”。
LI JIANHUA GUANGZHOU "China's birthrate is in a state of decline and its population is expected to dwindle by the late 2020s despite new child policies the government has been introducing. The expanding elderly population presents a burden on the nation's economy. In some provinces, local governments are even falling short of pensions. Experts say China has a long way to go to weather the challenges brought on by its aging population. LJH, CGTN, GUANGZHOU."尽管政府推出了全新的生育政策，但中国的出生率一直处于低迷状态，预计2020年人口将持续减少。日趋严峻的人口老龄化将对国家的经济增加巨大的经济挑战。在一些省份，当地的政府部门未建立完善的养老金制度。中国应对老年化趋势带来的挑战任重而道远。
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