During the ongoing Eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, Nadia Rasheed, United Nations Population Fund Representative to China and Country Director for Mongolia, and Melissa Gong Mitchell, Executive Director of the Global Coalition on Aging, shared their views with Beijing Review reporter Wang Rouhan on opportunities in the silver economy of an aging society. Edited excerpts of the interviews follow: 

Nadia Rasheed

Nadia Rasheed: China has the world’s largest population of older persons, with more than 300 million people over the age of 60. The country has made very strong commitments to improving health, ensuring inclusion and building age-friendly societies. China is also unique in that it has been leading innovation, and it has been pioneering innovative approaches to help improve healthcare for older persons.

Areas for further progress include providing more flexible retirement arrangements so older persons can remain economically active. A big challenge around the world is continuing to ensure that older persons have the strongest care possible, including longer-term care for very vulnerable older persons. Providing greater opportunities for lifelong learning is also critical.

Our study shows that technology is used to help people to lead healthier lives, remain more connected and be independent as they age. At the same time, we need to pay attention to people who may be a little further behind to ensure that technology does not just replicate existing inequalities.

On global lessons, China shows that aging, rather than being seen as a challenge, should be seen as an opportunity for societies. The silver economy offers enormous potential across health, leisure, finance and technology. Older persons should not just be seen as beneficiaries of the silver economy. They should be leaders of the silver economy, guiding the way in which it evolves.

Finally, China is a leading contributor to global development and has been a champion of multilateralism, supporting global commitments such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals and fostering South-South cooperation to deliver critical outcomes for people in China and around the world.

This dialogue underscores the importance of continued partnership and collaboration between China and the UN, and other countries, and knowledge-sharing in building inclusive societies for all ages.

Melissa Gong Mitchell

Melissa Gong Mitchell: CIIE is a huge expo here in Shanghai, and this is the first time I have attended. But to see all of the different vendors who are looking at healthcare and innovation, it's very exciting. At the Global Coalition on Aging, the focus is on any innovation that can lead to a healthier aging process. And so if we can stay healthier for as long as possible, then we can be active and productive for as long as possible as well.

China faces a significant challenge with its aging population. In just the past 5 years, China has seen its population over the age of 65 double to 366 million. That's basically the entire population of the United States. There is also a strong focus on prevention—such as in vision and cardiovascular health—to ensure diseases are identified early and managed effectively, helping people remain healthier longer.

For multinational companies, the message is to recognize that aging is a trend and it's a huge mega trend. But there are incredible opportunities if you invest in it. The silver economy, valued at $22 trillion, presents a massive opportunity. At a forum like this, we can make a choice,to step up and take leadership to innovate, to ensure that older people can stay active, can be in the workforce, can be as healthy as possible for as long as possible.

China has a very important role to play. When you have the largest society, when you have the largest aging population, when you have incredible innovations, cross-geographical conversations are essential as we're all facing the challenges that an aging population brings.

This exchange highlights China’s critical role in fostering innovation, guiding investment into the silver economy, and reshaping societal approaches to aging worldwide.

Copyedited by G.P. Wilson 

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