The 7th Annual Conference of the Taihu World Cultural Forum

A recording of these remarks can be found on YouTube and Tencent.

Excellencies,

Distinguished Guests, 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I thank the Taihu World Cultural Forum and the China Research Center on Ageing for the 7th Annual Conference of the Taihu World Cultural Forum and speak at the Thematic Forum on Strategies for Global Ageing. 

The world is undergoing a demographic transition characterized by sustained lower fertility and population ageing, which combine to achieve an accelerated trend of increase in the proportion of older persons in the total population. The number of persons aged 65 years or older worldwide is expected to double over the next three decades, reaching 1.6 billion in 2050, when older people will account for one in six people in the world.

China has the largest population of older persons in the world. At the end of 2022, there were more than 209 million people aged 65 and above, accounting for 1 in 7 people nationwide. In 2050, there will be 400 million people aged 65 and over, projected to account for 1 in 3 people nationwide. 

Population ageing is a global trend towards longer lives and smaller families, which is taking place in China. The fact that population ageing is driven by more people living healthier lives indicates that population ageing results from progress in other areas, such as rising incomes and access to essential services like healthcare and education. 

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development sets out a universal plan of action to achieve sustainable development in a balanced manner and seeks to realize the human rights of all people. It calls to leave no one behind and to ensure that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are met for all segments of society, at all ages, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable—including older persons. Responding to population ageing should form an integral part of the national agenda for achieving the SDGs. Population ageing is one of the megatrends are relevant to several SDGs, including those on No Poverty (Goal 1), Good Health and Well-being (Goal 3), Gender Equality (Goal 5), Decent Work and Economic Growth (Goal 8), Reduced Inequalities (Goal 10) and Sustainable Cities and Communities (Goal 11). 

Therefore, it is essential to address intersectional discrimination and the exclusion and vulnerability of many older persons in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Going beyond treating older persons as a vulnerable group is even more critical. Older persons must be recognized as active agents of societal development in order to achieve truly transformative, inclusive and sustainable development outcomes. This requires a shift in mindset, policy frameworks and concrete measures, from all of society. 

In April 2002, government representatives from across the globe met in Madrid, Spain, for the Second World Assembly on Ageing and adopted a global Plan of Action to respond to the opportunities and challenges of population ageing in the 21st century and to promote the development of a society for all ages. The plan, commonly known as MIPAA, is a comprehensive list of commitments focusing on three priority directions, older persons and development, advancing health and well-being into old age, and ensuring enabling and supportive environments.

In August 2020, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2021-2030 the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing. The World Health Organization leads this work in close collaboration with relevant international and regional organizations, including the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). To foster healthy ageing and improve the lives of older people, their families and communities, fundamental shifts will be required in our actions and how we think. The Decade addresses four areas for action, age-friendly environments, combatting ageism, integrated care, and long-term care.

Changing population dynamics and access to new technologies, coupled with rising inequalities and persistent social norms, are affecting human development outcomes. In responding to this, a rights-based life-cycle approach has been advocated by UNFPA to inform and underpin policy responses to emerging issues relating to demographic changes, including population ageing and decreasing fertility. A life-cycle approach to population ageing notes the sequential events and developmental steps throughout a person’s life, as many events that happen in later life could be underpinned by fertility and lifestyle decisions, as well as societal expectations and preferences during earlier phases of the life cycle. The ultimate goal is to ensure that policies and programmes that respond to these changes recognize and emphasize people’s lifelong flexible choices with regard to learning, working, childbearing, childrearing and care. 

The UN in China has extensive collaboration with our counterparts here in China, providing support to China’s national responses to population ageing. 

Responding to the request of China to support its national responses to population ageing, the UN system in China has been and will continue to promote a right-based and intergenerational approach to tackle ageism, as well as quality social care for older persons to ensure their choices and dignity are respected.  

We also look to promote life-long choices in pregnancy, childbirth, education, work, leisure and care in the context of low fertility in China. 

Accordingly, our programmatic support will focus on advocacy and support for the production of demographic data, sharing knowledge through North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation, in addition to policy dialogues and providing technical assistance.

We have also offered our support toward the Healthy China 2030 initiative, which has recognized the challenges of an ageing population. Its promotion of healthy lifestyles and physical fitness acknowledges that it is simply not sustainable to meet such challenges in a health system that relies solely on hospitals.

I call on all present here today to join us in such initiatives, including Healthy China 2030. 

As the UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said, “Together, let us build more inclusive and age-friendly societies and a more resilient world for all.”

I wish today’s forum every success.