Planning to live longer
Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao’s annual work report, delivered on Sunday to the National People’s Congress, showed just how seriously the country’s central government takes planning.
Among ambitious goals to narrow the wealth gap, curb inflation and increase low-income housing options, the premier boldly stated that China intends to make its people live longer. The one-child policy seems here to stay, but life expectancy will grow.
“We will adhere to the basic state policy on family planning and progressively improve it,” said Wen. “We will promote balanced population growth in the long term and raise the average life expectancy by one year.”
According to the CIA World Fact Book, China’s average life expectancy is 74.6 years. Monaco ranks first, with an average of about 89.7 years, while Angola is the lowest at roughly 38 years.
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