Massive survey to focus on 223,000 elderly

A national survey on China's aging population, the largest such effort of its kind, will start on Saturday, authorities announced on Tuesday.

The China National Committee on Aging said the sample survey will include about one-thousandth of China's population age 60 and older. The information collected will be used to create policy that addresses problems related to China's rapidly aging population.

"The survey is intended to provide a clear picture of living conditions of people age 60 or older in China, including their health, housing and access to medical care," said Wang Jianjun, deputy head of the committee. "It will provide a basis for national policymaking for the next five years or even longer."