Aging Problem

Oriental Outlook

October 31, 2013

China has the largest aging population in the world with the country's elderly population reaching 194 million in 2012. That number is expected to exceed 200 million by 2013 and 300 million by 2015.

Officials of the Ministry of Civil Affairs said that as China's society becomes progressively more aged, it poses a big challenge to the nation. Factors such as a longer life expectancy, low birth rate, rapid urbanization and three baby booms in 1949-59, 1962-73 and 1986-90 only complicate the situation. In the years to come, China will be one of the countries with the heaviest burdens of providing for the elderly.

While it is becoming an aging society, C hina is still a developing country. It faces the double pressures of maintaining sustainable economic growth and improving its social security. As this situation unravels, getting old before getting rich will become a basic feature of the society.

Visa Problems

Lifeweek

October 28, 2013

With China's growing middle class now able to afford overseas trips, complaints about the difficulties faced by Chinese passport holders during visa processing have increased.

Lifeweek in this issue looks at the inconveniences brought by visa problems to Chinese travelers and businesspeople visiting other countries. Chinese seldom enjoy visa-free treatment. Such status is usually conferred by the Cannikin Law, which pertains to the degree of development and comprehensive qualification of a country's lowest social hierarchy. The gap between rich and poor as well as imbalanced economic development are currently major problems in China, and the situation can't be changed in the short term. This means that before these two problems are solved, the Chinese people won't enjoy a wider scope of visa-free treatment.

However, there is also good news. To attract Chinese people with strong consumption capabilities, more countries are providing conditional visa-free visits, and some are initiating simplified visa procedures for Chinese tourists.

Entrepreneur Successors

China Economic Weekly

November 4, 2013

During the past three decades, China's reform and opening up has spawned a generation of wealthy entrepreneurs. As their enterprises grew and their fortunes ballooned, they now face the issue of how to successfully hand over their wealth and their entrepreneurial spirit to successors.

China Economic Weekly looks at this pressing dilemma. Traditionally, in China, sons or daughters, instead of professional executives, are expected to take over the familial business. Against the backdrop of China's surging economy, the new successors face the choice of maintaining the previous generation's achievments by sticking to "keeping it all in the family," or of breaking from tradition and focusing instead on hiring the best managers for the job.

Shopp ing Spree

People's Daily

November 11, 2013

Online sales hit record levels on this year's November 11 shopping spree, an activity started in 2009 when merchants on Tmall, China's largest e-commerce online shopping platform, offered discounts to perk up sales. This year, sales hit 35 billion yuan ($5.7 billion) on that day.

E-commerce brings people a shopping experience with no geographical restrictions and transparent price comparisons, attributing to the success of this man-made shopping festival. To continue the success, e-commerce platform providers have to make more breakthroughs to provide better after-sales service, guarantee product quality, erase risks of online payment and improve the credibility of online merchants.

More Attention to Bus Drivers

The Beijing News

November 3, 2013

Dong Hongnian, a bus driver in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, suffered from a sudden cerebral hemorrhage while on duty. During the incident, while enduring great pain, he managed to pull the hand brake and stop the bus just in time to keep the vehicle from plunging from a bridge. Although he passed away as a result of the hemorrhage, he did saved the lives of more than 20 passengers.

Dong's actions won him great honor, even in death. However, he has not been the only bus driver to suffer a sudden health emergency. Bus drivers work long hours and are under great pressure, which over time, takes a toll on health and could negatively affect the safety of passengers.

It is essential to organize regular physical examinations for all bus drivers and assess their health conditions.