China's population is getting older, and putting great pressure on social security and welfare provision.

It is estimated that the proportion of people aged 60 or older will rise from the current level of seven percent to about 12 percent in 2020. By the middle of this century, there will be more than 400 million people aged 65 and older.

An official with the Beijing Municipal Association for the Elderly says Chinese families are facing increasing pressure to support elderly relatives.

The Chinese government has spent 13.5 billion yuan, or more than one and half a billion US dollars over the past three years on improving services for the senior citizens.

(Photo Source: Xinhua)

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