Beijing, Sep 12 (EFE).- China’s health commission addressed citizens Thursday in an effort to surmount the challenges of its aging population and low birth rate.
Yu Xuejun, the commission’s vice president, asked citizens to have children “at the right time” and spoke of the importance of promoting parenting during a press conference organized by the State Council.
The government is promoting policies to support marriage and birth with the aim of “fostering a culture that values the family and shared responsibility in raising children,” said Yu.
These policies also seek to combat, according to the official, growing demographic disparities, including the low birth rate and an aging population, which affect the country’s economic development.
A June 2024 study by the National Business Daily said the declining number of young people and a population gender imbalance are among the main causes of reduced marriages and births. It said there are currently 17.52 million more men than women between 20 and 40.
The average life expectancy in China reached 78.6 in 2023, an increase of more than three years compared to 2012, according to Lei Haichao, the commission’s director.
The official said this increase reflects the progress made in the health system and the improvement in the quality of life in the country.
In addition to these initiatives, the country faces the challenge of expanding its medical resources to serve an aging population.
Officials said during the press conference that the health system is being reformed to improve access to quality medical services in the country, with a focus on ensuring rural areas also benefit from technological and medical advances.
Yu also highlighted the need to strengthen surveillance of infectious diseases. The country has implemented several monitoring systems that allow for early detection of outbreaks and rapid response, which is key in the context of an aging population more vulnerable to these threats. EFE
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