The 8th China International Senior Services Expo & the 8th Forum on the Development

The opening ceremony and the main forum

On August 22, 2019, the Opening Ceremony of the 8th China International Senior Services Expo & the 8th Forum on the Development of Chinese Senior Service Industry was held at China National Convention Center in Beijing.

Zhang Meiying, Vice Chairman of the 11th CPPCC, addressed the meeting and announced the opening of the Expo

Gregory Ross Shaw, Director of Department of International Relations, IFA, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony

Li Wanjun, Director General of Beijing Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau

Feng Xiaoli, President of China Association of Social Welfare and Senior Service, hosted the opening ceremony

The Expo is jointly hosted by China Association of Social Welfare and Senior Service and Chinese Health Association. It is specially supported by the International Federation on Aging (IFA), Beijing Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau, China Charity Alliance, Embassy of Canada to China, Business France in China, Department of Health, Welfare and Sports of the Netherlands Embassy in Beijing. It is undertaken by Zhongfu Elderly Senior Service Co., Ltd and Beijing Zhongfu Elderly Culture Technology Co., Ltd. The Expo has seven exhibition areas, with over 200 social organizations, institutions and enterprises from more than 10 countries and regions participating in the exhibition. At the same time, the 8th Forum on the Development of Chinese Senior Service Industry and seven sub-forums were held. Guests from the IFA, the United States, Canada, Russia, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Singapore, Japan, etc., and leaders of China National Committee on Aging and All-China Federation of Trade Unions, as well as heads of social organizations affiliated to relevant ministries and commissions attended the Opening Ceremony and the Main Forum.

This Expo earnestly implements General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important guideline of “Remain true to our original aspiration and keep our mission firmly in mind”, also actively publicizes and carries out the significant policies and work arrangements proposed by the national “13th Five-Year Plan” concerning driving the development of the senior service industry. Focusing on the new demands for the growth of the senior service industry, the expo aims to further utilize the platform role of social organizations with regard to cross-border integration, wisdom and strength cohesion, and to improve their ability to serve the society and the industry. It is also expected that this expo and related forum activities could bring in the latest scientific research and practical fruits of the international senior service industry, vigorously publicize and promote the abundant fruits of the domestic senior service industry, further set up the platform for the domestic and foreign senior service industry to learn and exchange, showcase the achievements, promote the integration. Hopefully, the activity will meet the material and cultural needs, improve living standards of the elderly, giving impetus to the harmonious construction of the society.

Zhang Meiying, Vice Chairwoman of the 11th CPPCC, Gregory Ross Shaw, Minister of Department of International Relation of The International Federation on Ageing, and Li Wanjun, Director General of Beijing Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau, attended the opening ceremony and addressed the meeting; Zhang Meiying, Vice Chairman of the 11th CPPCC, announced the opening of the Expo; The ceremony was hosted by Feng Xiaoli, President of China Association of Social Welfare and Senior Service. 

Vice Chairwoman Zhang Meiying pointed out in her speech that 2019 is a crucial year for the construction of the well-off society in an all-round way. The Party Central Committee and the State Council have attached great importance to the problem of population aging in China, and will speed up the construction of the senior care service system and improve the well-being of the elderly as an important part to address weakness, protect and improve people's livelihood. According to the principle of "All-round view and active response; All take charge and all enjoy; Do one’s best and what capable of; Creation leads to development; Openness and cooperation”, we should strengthen top-down design. The government introduced a series of policies to promote the development of senior care services, continuing to improve home-based, community-dependent, institution-supplemented, healthcare-nursing-integrated senior care service system. Thus, we can vigorously promote continuous optimization of supply structure for the senior service, increase the effective social investment, the continuous improvement of the quality in senior care services, and the full release of the consumption potential of senior care services. Recently, the State Council established the inter-ministerial joint conference system for the senior service led by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and issued the "Opinions on Implementation of the Healthy China Action" and related supporting file. The Healthy China Action centers upon the main health problems and influencing factors faced by the current people, and carrying out 15 special projects. In order to promote the overall health of the elderly, the Health and Welfare Committee has formulated implementation measures around 15 special actions; In addition, the Ministry of Education deepens the reform of vocational education, including the field of senior care services in the first group of pilot projects in the pilot project of 1 Plus X vocational skill level certificate for colleges and universities; Driven by a series of national policies, the whole society is full of enthusiasm to devote themselves to the senior service industry, which contributes to a boom of the industry, including plenty of welcome changes. Under the active advocacy and promotion from the government departments and the eager participation of social forces, the China International Pension Service Expo has been held for seven consecutive years. It has been widely recognized and widely praised in the field of domestic and international senior care services, which has become a grand gathering for the collection of wisdom and strength, brand cultivation, product innovation, and integrated development, eventually foster the scientific development of China's senior service.

Gregory Ross Shaw, Minister of Department of International Relation of The International Federation on Ageing, first expressed his congratulations on the opening of the Expo on behalf of the International Federation of Ageing via video, and pointed out that in the context of China's aging population, the 8th China International Senior Services Expo is of extreme importance: “The China International Senior Services Expo which grows every year responds to a global need, attracts national and international sponsors and exhibitors and is fast becoming the expo where innovation can be seen and experienced first-hand. The leadership of the China Association of Social Welfare is highly respected nationally and internationally and without the vision, the drive and the passion this expo would not have grown to be a much sought-after event in the calendar. The 8th China International Senior Services Expo demonstrates commitment to advanced technology and creative products and designs, while promoting growth and the development of the senior services industry.  Through this Expo, China is undoubtedly a leading force to change the way we do business for and with seniors, today and in the future.”

Li Wanjun, Director General of Beijing Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau, extended congratulations on the success of the Expo on behalf of Beijing Municipal Committee on Social Work, Beijing Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau. He said, China International Senior Services Expo that has been held consecutively for eight years. During these years, under the guidance of China Association of Social Welfare and Senior Service, the expo has become one of the most famous exhibitions in both domestic and international senior service industries, more and more exhibitors, increasingly larger scale, and more and more extensive brand influence; During these years, the association has played a positive role in calling for benefits for enterprises, bridging the enterprises and the government, coordinating the standard behaviors and  conducting industry dynamics research; During these years, the expo, together with the association, has provided intelligence support and information service all around the country for the construction of a Beijing model of the senior service system with Chinese characteristics.

Zhang Meiying, Vice Chairman of the 11th CPPCC at the meeting

Liu Guanghe, The First Chairman of China Association of Social Welfare and Senior Service attended the meeting

Zhang Shiping, Former Vice-chairman of All-China Federation of Trade Union, Member Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee attended the meeting

Qi Xuesen,  President  of  China Social Welfare Foundation    

Among guests attending the Opening Ceremony are leaders of ministries and commissions and social organizations, including Wu Yushao, Deputy Director of the China National Committee on Aging; Liu Guanghe, the first President of China Association of Social Welfare and Senior Service; Li Wanjun, Director General of Beijing Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau; Zhang Shiping, Former Vice-chairman of All-China Federation of Trade Union, Member Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee; Qi Xuesen, President of China Social Welfare Foundation; Guo Yucheng, President of Chinese Health Association; Liu Fuqing, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of China Charity Alliance; Shabalin Vladimir, Chairman of Association of Gerontics and Geriatric of Russian Federation; Christopher Loan, First Secretary (Commercial), Trade Commissioner, Embassy of Canada to China; Peter A.Bootsma, Netherlands Embassy Counsellor for Health, Welfare and Sports; Herrn Dr. Meinhold, Chairman of Fuu Saxony Ggmbh; Ong Chu Poh, Chairman of Singapore Econ Healthcare Group.

Zhang Mingliang, Standing Vice Chairman of China Association of Social Welfare and Senior Service hosted the main forum

The 8th Forum on the Development of Chinese Senior Service Industry was hosted by Zhang Mingliang, executive vice president of China Association of Social Welfare and Senior Service. The forum focused on the senior undertaking development, the construction of senior service systems, and building diversified senior service models as prescribed in the state’s 13th Five-Year Plan. Leaders from government departments and industrial administration departments home and abroad actively offered advice and suggestions, and exchanged ideas on the innovative development of the senior service industry in the new era.

Wu Yushao, Deputy Director of the National Working Commission on Ageing Office, made a keynote speech at the main forum

Shabalin Vladimir, Chairman of Association of Gerontics and Geriatric of Russian Federation, Longevity Association of Russian Federation made a keynote speech at the main forum

Guo Yucheng, President of Chinese Health Association made a keynote speech at the main forum

Thibaut FABRE, Counselor of Business France Business Investment Department of  French Embassy, Head of Business France in China made a keynote speech at the main forum

Li Hongbing, Deputy Director General of Beijing Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau made a keynote speech at the main forum

Peter A. Bootsma, Netherlands Embassy Counsellor for Health, Welfare and Sports made a keynote speech at the main forum

Ong Chu Poh, Chairman of Singapore ECON Healthcare Group made a keynote speech at the main forum

 Wu Yushao, Deputy Director of China National Committee on Aging, analyzed the “Practice of Healthy China Action: a Boost for Sound Development of Senior Care Service Industry” from six aspects in his keynote speech, which includes the greatest inelastic needs of the elderly, integrating health ideas into senior care services, clarifying a new concept of active aging, carrying out health awareness promotion actions, promoting the integration of medical treatment and nursing scientifically, strengthening actively prevention and rehabilitation. Shabalin Vladimir, President of the Russian Gerontology and Geriatric Pathology Association introduced the state and prospects of solving the problem of longevity in Russia specially. Guo Yucheng, President of Chinese Health Association made a speech titled “Building the system of Health and Senior Care Based on Healthy China 2020 Program”, shared the experiences on the practice of Health and Senior Care Services. Thibaut FABRE, 4.Commercial Counsellor / Head of Business France in China, shared the Sino-French cooperation experiences on caring for the elderly together. Li Hongbing, Deputy Director of Beijing Civil Affairs Bureau, shared the advanced experience of Beijing in recent years in conscientiously implementing relevant state policies, actively exploring the innovative model of senior service, and bringing senior service into communities and families on the topic of “Practice and Thoughts on Nearest-Preferred Senior Care System”; Peter A. Bootsma, Netherlands Embassy Counsellor for Health, Welfare and Sports, shared successful experiences and national policy support in Netherlands in the field of senior care services. Mr.Ong Chu Poh, Chairman of Singapore ECON Healthcare Group, introduced practice and development orientation of Singapore senior care services industry, taking “Development of Senior Service Industry of Singapore in 30 Years” as title. 

At the Opening Ceremony and Main Forum of the Expo, People.cn, Xinhuanet, CCTV, CNR, Economic Daily, China Daily, China community newspaper, China Reform Daily, China News Service, BTV, Beijing People's Broadcasting Station, Beijing Morning Post, Beijing Evening Post and other mainstream media reported the Expo on site one after another, which paid highly attention to the innovation and development for the Expo.