After full coverage of the rural health insurance was realized in 2008, the proportion of rural elderly impoverished by medical spending dwindled, Li added.
Meanwhile, the health insurance coverage rate for elderly urbanites increased by 40 percentage points from 2000 to 2010.
China also launched a program in 2009 to provide an annual physical examination to each citizen over the age of 65.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Health put forth in its five-year plan that a long-term nursing system for the elderly would be built to provide care to incapacitated seniors.
Li said all these measures represent the country's efforts to cope with the rapidly aging society.
According to official statistics, China had about 185 million people over the age of 60, or 13.7 percent of the population, by the end of last year.
By 2053, the number of senior citizens in China is expected to hit 487 million, or 35 percent of the population.
Landmark building should respect the public's feeling
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