The 2026 Asia-Pacific Population Aging Conference was held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang

China News Service, Hangzhou, October 31 (Zhang Yuhuan) From October 26 to 30, the 2026 Asia-Pacific Population Aging Conference with the theme of "Inclusiveness, Innovation, and Sustainability: A Common Agenda for Population Aging" was held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. The meeting was based on the actual development of aging in the Asia-Pacific region, integrated Chinese and foreign wisdom on aging governance, and explored cooperation paths to actively respond to population aging.

The conference has multiple agendas including high-level group discussions, introductory lectures, parallel meetings, special side events, and results release, with rich content and numerous highlights. The introductory lecture took the theme of the silver economy and longevity society, based on the global aging governance pattern, and provided an in-depth analysis of the opportunities and challenges brought about by population aging. During the high-level group discussion, representatives from China, Singapore, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Iran and other countries and regions as well as international organizations conducted in-depth discussions. In 16 parallel meetings, participants conducted full exchanges on diverse topics such as the silver economy, technology, artificial intelligence and population aging, sustainable care, and the construction of an age-friendly society, focusing on community care, green transformation, and Africa-Asia dialogue.

The conference specially created a "China Forum". Representatives from Shanghai, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and other places shared China's experience in four aspects: the construction of a universal lifelong education system, the construction of age-friendly communities, the practice of grassroots aging governance, and urban and rural aging-friendly transformation. The China Association on Aging released three research reports: "From Vienna to Beijing: China's Plan to Actively Cope with Population Aging", "China's "Silver Age Action": Development Current Situation and Typical Case Studies" and "Research on the High-Quality Development Path of China's Silver Economy".

During the meeting, the guests visited the 2026 Zhejiang (International) Health Care Industry Expo, inspected the Silver Economic Industrial Park, senior-friendly neighborhoods, and community elderly care services, and intuitively experienced the innovation achievements of China's health care industry and the practical results of grassroots assistance to the elderly.

The meeting extensively gathered consensus and policy suggestions from all parties, and released the results of the meeting. It proposed five initiatives, including converting longevity into development opportunities, promoting universal access to care services, promoting digital technology to empower good, sharing the dividends of silver economic development, and enhancing mutual trust and understanding. It encouraged all parties to uphold the concepts of inclusiveness, innovation and exploration, and sustainable development, work together to deal with the real challenges brought by the aging population, and continue to improve the well-being of the elderly.

The conference was co-sponsored by the China Association on Aging, HelpAge International, and the United Nations Population Fund, and hosted by the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Civil Affairs and the Hangzhou Municipal People's Government. Nearly 700 Chinese and foreign representatives from government departments, academic institutions, international organizations, social organizations and enterprises attended the meeting.