The Chinese response to the challenges of aging.

The burden of support for the elderly, intergenerational relationships and value realization constitute three vital factors that will shape China's sustainable development in the future. These three issues translate themselves into the problem of “fewer producers and more consumers” in the field of economics, or intergenerational conflicts over distribution of resources and power and the issue of old people's value realization in the field of sociology. From the perspective of demography, old persons who are vulnerable as a result of family planning occupy an ever increasing proportion of the population, and China can expect to see a large number of “elderly people affected by family planning.” This concept has been formulated to draw the attention of government and government departments at all levels to the public benefit and welfare character of public services in population and family planning. Aging poses long-term and diverse challenges to a China that is getting old before it gets rich. In response to such challenges, this paper proposes a strategy of “successful aging” that foresees an old age of health, activity, harmony and happiness. In responding to population aging and the challenges it poses, Chinese society has developed a unique approach that combines tradition with modern elements. This approach may be summarized as being based on old age support by families, work units (collectives) and self-help, supplemented by the community, social welfare and philanthropy. The paper concludes with a brief review of the contributions in this special issue within the framework of “China's problem and China's choices.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]