Sino-Norwegian Social Policy Forum opens in Haikou

Sino-Norwegian Social Policy Forum opens in Haikou. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The 14th Sino-Norwegian Social Policy Forum opened on March 30 in Haikou, the capital city of China's southernmost Hainan province, with its theme focusing on "China in Unprecedented Population Aging".

Co-sponsored by the China (Hainan) Institute of Reform and Development and the Norwegian Urban Regional Research Institute, the two-day event brought together more than 300 experts and scholars from relevant Chinese ministries, 15 local provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, entrepreneurs, Norway, Japan and three international organizations.

They exchanged experiences and insights on such topics as "growth and pension", "policies and systems", "government, society and enterprises", "inheritance and innovation" which are decisive factors and issues in an aging society.

According to Chinese experts, Norway has accumulated valuable experience in many aspects such as advancing economic growth while developing elderly care, with both having achieved comparatively good results. Since entering an aging society in 1977, Norway has maintained an annual GDP growth rate of 2.5 percent, which is 1 percentage point higher than the average growth rate of other high-income countries.

Drawing on Norwegian experience in developing elderly care while maintaining economic growth and strengthening cooperation with Norway in the field of elderly care will exert a positive effect on China in the current population aging period, said Chinese officials.

Cooperation between China Institute for Reform and Development and Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research began in 2002. The Sino-Norwegian Social Policy Forum jointly organized by the two institutes with support of the Norwegian Embassy to China has become an important platform for academic exchanges. And a long list of joint researches and discussions have produced not only policy impacts, but also a wide range of social impacts.