2016 West China Old Age Pension Summit opens in Lanzhou

The 2016 West China Old Age Pension Summit opened in Gansu's Lanzhou on China's traditional Double Ninth Festival, a celebration for the elderly, which fell on Oct 10 this year.

The summit revealed that Gansu is one of China's fastest-aging provinces. Especially in the last five years, the imbalance between supply and demand of elderly service has become serious. By the end of 2015, the old-aged population (aged 60 and above) in Gansu province exceeded 3.9 million, 15 percent of all Gansu residents.

During the 12th Five Year Plan (2011- 2015), Gansu increased investment in constructing a better old age pension system.

Wang Fude, deputy director of Gansu Provincial Government, attended the summit and delivered a keynote address.

"We have made efforts and raised a fund of 206 million yuan ($30.68 million) to promote the old age pension system," said Wang.

"The nursing institutions for the elderly cover 95 percent of the province's area. Official statistics show that Gansu nursing homes are able to care for 120,000 at present," Wang added.

Edited by Owen Fishwick