China had 317,000 grassroots senior organizations by the end of 2005, safeguarding the rights and interests for elderly people, says a white paper issued by the Information Office of the State Council Tuesday.

The white paper, titled "the Development of China's Undertakings for the Aged," says that China had 317,000 grassroots senior organizations in both urban and rural areas by the end of 2005, which had helped their members continue to make contributions to the social and economic development of China.

"The state values and cherishes senior citizens for their knowledge, experience and skills, and respects them for their good ethical values," the white paper says.

In local areas, societies with senior intellectuals as the mainstay have been founded, such as the Association of Retired Engineers and Association of Senior Teaching Staff, the white paper says.

About 13 national associations for senior citizens have sprung up, including the China Senior Professors Association, Association of Senior Scientists, with a membership together exceeding 650,000, according to the paper.

Statistics show that among the elderly people of China, in urban areas 38.7 percent participate in public welfare activities, and 5.2 percent still have paid work; in rural areas, 36.4 percent are engaged in farming.

In 2003, the Chinese government started to organize the Silver Hair Action program, aimed at enabling senior intellectuals to apply their scientific and technological knowledge and expertise to aid the western regions and other under-developed areas in their localities. So far, senior citizens involved in the Action program have treated over 200,000 patients and trained 38,000 medical personnel and primary and middle school teachers in 24 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities.

Source: Xinhua