The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) held its 39th briefing session on issues of major concern in Beijing on Sept 29, focusing on the coordinated development of elderly care services and industries.

Zhou Qiang and He Baoxiang, vice-chairmen of the CPPCC National Committee, attended the session.

Yuan Da, secretary-general of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), gave a briefing on related work.

He stated that in recent years, the NDRC has advanced the implementation of the national strategy of proactive response to population aging, improved the elderly care service system, expanded the silver economy, and innovated implementation mechanisms, so as to consistently promote the coordinated development of elderly care services and industries.

During the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), efforts will be made to strengthen social security for the elderly with high-quality and effective elderly care services, and significantly grow the silver economy, thus creating an elderly-friendly social environment, he said.

Sun Shuopeng, vice-minister of civil affairs, also gave a briefing, noting that the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA), working with relevant departments, has strengthened the supply of inclusive, basic, and safety-net elderly care services, promoted balanced development of elderly care services in urban and rural areas, and unleashed the growth momentum of the silver economy.

Going forward, the MCA will optimize differentiated policy supply, with the government providing the basic services and the market offering diverse options, to form a new pattern of elderly care development featuring secured safety-net support, inclusive and sustainable services, and high-end offerings, he added.

During the session, CPPCC National Committee members and officials from relevant government departments also exchanged views on issues such as achieving phased goals of elderly care service reform, stimulating the market vitality of the elderly care industry, promoting home- and community-based elderly care, and guiding social forces to establish elderly care institutions.

Wang Ercheng, vice-chairman of the Committee on Social and Legal Affairs of the CPPCC National Committee, presided over the session.