The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) held a meeting on Sept 4 to discuss accelerating the adaptation of society for the elderly and building an age-friendly society. He Baoxiang, vice-chairman of the CPPCC National Committee and executive vice-chairman of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang Central Committee, addressed the gathering. 

It was noted at the meeting that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2012, the CPC Central Committee has attached great importance to the development of elderly care initiatives. Party committees and governments at all levels have earnestly implemented the national strategy on responding to population aging, striving to improve the well-being and security of the elderly through sustained efforts to create an age-friendly society. 

Participants stressed that accelerating the adaptation of society for the elderly is an urgent and long-term mission. Efforts should be made to strengthen the CPC's overall leadership, review the practices and experience gained during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) and advance the work with stronger policy support and more concrete measures during the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30). 

They emphasized that the CPPCC should give full play to its role as a specialized consultative body by conducting inspections and surveys, submitting proposals and offering targeted advice to advance this people-centered initiative. 

Nine CPPCC National Committee members offered recommendations based on their five years of participation in democratic supervision of age-friendly initiatives under the Committee on Social and Legal Affairs of the CPPCC National Committee. 

Officials from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development provided updates on related efforts and engaged in in-depth discussions with CPPCC members.