Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, presides over a bi-weekly seminar of the CPPCC in Beijing, capital of China, June 14, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING -- Chinese national CPPCC members convened a bi-weekly seminar on Friday to discuss the development of elderly care services.

The country's elderly care services should take root in the fine traditional culture and the country's reality, said Wang Yang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), who presided over the meeting and made a speech.

Efforts should be made to foster a policy system and a social environment in which senior citizens are respected, cared for, and live happily in their later years, said Wang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

A total of 11 CPPCC members and a representative from an elderly care institution put forward their suggestions, according to a statement issued after the meeting.

They noted that the country faces challenges in providing care services for senior citizens with fledgling systems, the imbalanced distribution of services, inadequate facilities and relatively low quality.

CPPCC members proposed improving legislation concerning elderly care, raising people's awareness of family support for seniors, developing community-based care services, enhancing medical insurance and encouraging the private sector to invest in elderly care institutions.