As China's population faces the unique situation of growing old before it grows rich, the government has a window of opportunity that will close in about a generation from now to come up with lasting solutions, he said.

"We have to seize the opportunity before the year 2030.

We cannot afford to miss this golden opportunity," Li Bengong, the vice director of the China National Working Commission on Ageing, told a briefing in Beijing.

"Everything must be completed in terms of addressing the problem of the ageing of the population before 2030."

As one example of China's lack of infrastructure to cope with the looming issue, Li said China currently had only 1,5 million beds in old-age homes, while an estimated seven million elderly hope to be accommodated there.

"The difference between supply and demand is extremely large, and we most urgently have to increase the number of beds," he said.

China currently has 144 million people aged 60 or more, accounting for half of Asia's entire population in that age group, according to official Chinese statistics.

Another 100 million will be added roughly every 15 years to hit about 437 million in 2050, the statistics show.

Nampa-AFP

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