During the three decades of reform and opening up policy period, China has witnessed its tremendous changes on polity, economy, and society. Also, it was a key period, during which China's ageing undertaking has experienced its birth to incessant development. China's old-age insurance system has been gradually completed: the basic old-age insurance, basic healthcare and new style of rural medical system have developed during the reforms. The welfare, education, culture, and sports careers for the elderly have been rapidly developed, too. The traditional virtue of supporting, respecting and helping the aged is continued to be the ethics of the society. The older people's material and spiritual lives have been satisfied in a great degree. And their rights and interests have been protected and guaranteed well. Thanks to the reform and opening up policy, China's ageing undertaking has achieved great improvement.
China's ageing undertaking is facing unprecedented opportunity as well as the challenges. Currently, there are 153 million older people over 60 years old. The great amount of ageing population and the rapid increasing process are serious condition for China to deal with in the 21st century. As the biggest developing country, China is facing an austere challenge caused by rapid ageing population expanding.
The fact is that, the level of China's economy is still not high; the ageing policy construction cannot meet the need of development of ageing population; the old-age and healthcare insurance system are not completed; the ageing service facilities are not enough to satisfy the demand of the elderly; the older people's spiritual life needs more contents. At present, China is in its key period of solving the ageing problems. Therefore, China needs to intensify the ageing policy; complete the social insurance system; increase the construction speed of service for the elderly; solve the problems caused by population ageing; promote the development of ageing undertaking, so to realize the goals of ''all elderly people are to be provided for and enjoy proper medical care; they are to be given opportunities to pass on their experience as well as to learn new things; they should be given the opportunity to do what they can for the society, while enjoying their later years'' and to construct ''a harmonious society for all ages''.
It has to insist reform and opening up policy and construct the harmonious society as the guide for developing China's ageing undertaking. It is a crucial step to put the ageing undertaking to the big picture of scientific developing views and harmonious society; to advocate the Chinese traditional virtue to respect and help the aged; to satisfy the increasingly material and cultural demand of the elderly; and to ensure the older people have a guaranteed, respectful and safe life.
It has to insist the policy of ''doing everything for the people'' to develop China's ageing undertaking, so to solve the most concerned, direct, and practical problems of the elderly people. The complete ageing policies and rules are needed for the development of ageing undertaking in systematic level; the complete old-age social insurance system is the guarantee for the older people's medical problem; the promotion of all kinds of social activities is the premise of active ageing. All aspects above are important factors for China's ageing progress.
The guideline of China's ageing undertaking is to ''follow the leadership of the government; encourage the society to get involved in ageing activity; advocate the whole nation to concern about the ageing undertaking''. The ageing undertaking is one of the most significant missions of the Party and Government, as well as a long-term and tough task. Leaders of all levels have to take care of the problems of the aged, to intensify the investigation and research on serious ageing issues, to increase the effectiveness and pertinence of ageing policy, so to solve the conflict and problem for the older people. Further more, the function of the rest of the society is also very important for the ageing undertaking.
To develop the ageing undertaking is a great and meaningful challenge. Through long-term and continuous effort, China has prepared well for its historical opportunity for developing ageing undertaking. China is confident for its ability on solving the ageing problems, accelerating the steps on ageing issues, and constructing a harmonious society.
