Xi extends greetings to elderly to mark Seniors' Day

陈小将

Volunteers give haircuts to seniors at a nursing home in Jiaozuo, Henan province, on Monday. CHENG QUAN/FOR CHINA DAILY
President Xi Jinping extended greetings to the elderly ahead of the country's Seniors' Day, which falls on Friday, and he called on the silver-haired group nationwide to continue their pursuits to live a fulfilling life.

He also called for efforts to address the pressing concerns of the elderly, improve relevant policies and measures, ensure the protection of their rights and well-being, and enable them to effectively contribute to society.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a reply letter, dated Wednesday, to representatives of seniors who participate in a national volunteer initiative.

The Silver Age Action initiative was launched in 2003 with the goal of leveraging the expertise of senior professionals across various domains to assist in improving underdeveloped areas.

More than 7 million elderly volunteers have participated in the initiative, undertaking over 4,000 assistance projects. It has become one of the key platforms for promoting the active engagement of elderly people in social activities.

In his letter, Xi commended the participants in the initiative who have taken part in volunteer activities in recent years and applied their knowledge and skills to serve the public. This embodies the fine spirit of the Chinese elderly in the new era, he said.

Noting that the seniors are a valuable asset to both the Party and the country, Xi expressed the hope that more seniors would maintain an enterprising spirit to contribute to the advancement of Chinese modernization.

He urged Party committees and governments at all levels to prioritize work related to the elderly in order to address their concerns.

The president also underlined the need to improve policies and measures to foster a favorable social environment for the elderly.

Seniors' Day, also known as Chongyang Festival or Double Ninth Festival in China, falls on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. It is an occasion to care for and send blessings to the elderly throughout the nation.

China's population age 60 and above approached 300 million by the end of 2023, accounting for 21.1 percent of the total population, according to statistics from the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Among them, the number of people age 65 and above was more than 217 million, representing 15.4 percent of the total population.

Ensuring that elderly people can live happy and fulfilling lives is something that Xi always bears in mind. He has expressed his personal care on many occasions, including during his inspection tours nationwide, about the well-being of seniors in the country, particularly those who live alone.

Under Xi's leadership, China has pursued a proactive national strategy in response to an aging population, and it strives to develop elderly care programs and services. The goal of ensuring that all elderly people can be well provided for, have access to elderly care and enjoy fulfilling lives is becoming a reality.

As of the end of 2023, more than 43 million elderly people nationwide have benefited from various elderly subsidies, highlighting the high level of attention the country pays to the welfare of the elderly, according to a report released by the Ministry of Civil Affairs in September.