人口老龄化既是挑战也是机遇

Aging population a trend that is both challenge, opportunity

人口老龄化既是挑战也是机遇

The central authorities have unveiled the first comprehensive document guiding the governments of various levels to cope with challenges of one of the largest and fastest aging populations in the world. Beijing News comments:

中央政府印发了指导各级政府积极应对人口老龄化挑战的第一份系统文件，《新京报》评论道：

It is predicted that by 2035, the number of people above 60 years old will account for more than one-fourth of the country's population, which is already the case in some big cities, and the proportion will surge to more than one-third by 2050.

据预测，截至2035年，全国60岁以上的人口将占总人口的四分之一以上，而这也是一些大城市的现状。到2050年，这一比例将激增至三分之一以上。

International experience shows that it is the social security and public service system that bears the brunt of an aging population, although the demographic change also takes its toll on social vitality, innovation and growth.

国际经验表示，尽管人口老龄化会对社会活力、社会创新和增长带来了损失，但首当其冲的却是社会保障和公共服务体系。

But if policymakers incorporate the trend into their social management and national development policy portfolios and take sufficient and effective preemptive measures, the aging population will not necessarily become a problem.

但如果政策制定者能将这一趋势纳入社会管理和国家发展政策中，并采取充分有效的积极措施，人口老龄化未必是一个问题。

As the experience of many developed economies shows, it is essential that the country transforms its growth model from one driven by production elements to one driven by innovation before the coming of the aging society, so as to minimize the impact of the loss of labor on the economy.

许多发达经济体的经验表明，在老龄化社会来临之前，一个国家必须将其增长模式从以生产要素为主转变为以创新为主，从而最大程度地降低劳动力流失对经济增长的影响。

So while increasing the social investment and inputs for the elderly, improving elder care and retirement services and enhancing legal and social protections, the government must also build a high quality work force and introduce advanced and innovative technologies to improve productivity.

因此，在增加社会对老年人的投资投入，改善老年人的关怀和退休服务以及加强法律和社会保护的同时，政府还必须建立一支高素质的劳动力队伍，同时还应引入先进的创新技术来提高生产率。

The plan therefore provides a guideline for local governments to change their perspective so that rather than seeing senior citizens as simply a financial burden they should view them as motivation for providing high-quality services and a better social environment. Treating the elderly well is a traditional virtue of the Chinese nation, and building a policy system for pensions, filial piety, respect for the elderly and a healthy social environment is also a must.

所以，该规划为地方政府的观点改变提供了指南——他们不应将老年人视为单纯的经济负担，而应将其视作提供高质量服务和改善社会环境的动力。善待老人是中华民族的传统美德，因此，建立养老政策，营造孝老、敬老的健康社会环境也势在必行。

Therefore, the aging of the population itself is not a problem. It is an important trend showing the country's social development.

总之，人口老龄化本身并不是问题，相反，它代表着示一国社会发展的重要趋势。