The Chinese government has welcomed the role of the church in providing social care in the country.
China’s leaders held meetings in mid-November in Beijing to discuss the economic and political agenda for the next decade, in which it seems the church will play a vital role. Though it is the world’s second biggest economy, China is facing a social care crisis, particularly in caring for an increasingly elderly population.
According to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, by 2040 nearly 20% of China’s rural population will be aged over 65. The government called on the church to provide care for the elderly, as well as offering drug prevention and rehabilitation, and work with those living with HIV.
