China News Service:

The establishment of senior dining rooms in residential areas has addressed the dining difficulties of many elderly people, especially those who are advanced in age and live alone. Could you please provide an overview of the progress and achievements in the deployment of assisted catering services for the elderly since its inception, and share your plans for further advancement? Thank you.

Lu Zhiyuan:

I'll leave this question to Mr. Tang Chengpei.

Tang Chengpei:

Thank you for the question from China News Service. As you mentioned earlier, assisted catering services are among the top needs of the elderly. Some elderly people, especially those who are advanced in age, empty-nesters, live alone or are incapacitated, face difficulties in cooking and dining. This is a concern for the elderly themselves, their families and society at large. As Mr. Lu Zhiyuan mentioned earlier, the CPC Central Committee attaches great importance to assisted catering services for the elderly. Last October, the executive meeting of the State Council reviewed and approved an action plan to promote the development of meal services for the elderly, which this year has been included in the National Working Commission on Aging's list of elderly-oriented livelihood initiatives. Civil affairs departments at all levels have organized and implemented these initiatives, and positive results have been achieved in assisted catering services for the elderly.

First, supportive policies have been accelerated. This year, the central government has allocated 300 million yuan in guidance funds to support the development of assisted catering services for the elderly. Based on their own financial capacity and actual conditions, various regions have provided preferential measures for assisted catering services for the elderly and supportive policies for service enterprises and operating entities. At the same time, they have encouraged public welfare and charitable organizations, as well as philanthropic enterprises and individuals, to actively participate by providing support through government subsidies, corporate discounts and social donations.

Second, the service network has been continuously expanded. Based on local conditions, various regions have issued assisted catering services work plans and supporting measures. By expanding the functions of elderly care service institutions, integrating and utilizing idle community resources and renovating existing facilities, new dining rooms for the elderly have been established, and the assisted catering service network for the elderly has been expanded. In some places, a 15-minute assisted catering service circle for the elderly has been formed, allowing the elderly to enjoy convenient assisted catering services right at their doorsteps.

Third, the model of assisted catering services for the elderly has been increasingly enriched. In the practice of providing services for the elderly, different places have developed the model of "elderly care institutions plus assisted catering services" in accordance with local conditions. In the past, the catering service offered by elderly care institutions only served the elderly within these institutions. Now through the expansion of functions, these institutions can provide assisted catering services to the elderly living in society, making better use of existing resources. There are also the models of "social catering plus entrusted services," "community canteens plus dining tables for the elderly," "central kitchen plus professional delivery," "online platform ordering plus offline delivery," "dining tables plus desks" and other models. In some elderly canteens, tables are used for meals during dining times and then become desks where elderly people can learn about health and elderly care. All these have offered a wide variety of options for elderly people.

Fourth, quality and safety have continued to be strengthened. All localities have made efforts to promote the development of standardized, procedure-based assisted catering services for the elderly as well as advance the application of information technology within these services. A coordinated mechanism for supervision has been established where the Ministry of Civil Affairs takes the leading role, multiple departments participate and local governments take on jurisdictional responsibilities. Supervision and inspection have been strengthened. To ensure the safety of assisted meals, food safety must first be safeguarded. It is necessary to ensure that every bite of food is safe for the elderly.

Overall, positive results have been made in developing assisted catering services, which are popular among older people. Next, we will conscientiously implement the decisions and plans of the Party Central Committee and the State Council by increasing the coverage and improving the quality and effectiveness of assisted catering services for the elderly in an orderly manner.

First, we will further improve policies and measures. We will adhere to a combination of attributes from public welfare and market mechanism, as well as will prioritize the function of assistance and work with relevant departments to improve and implement supportive policies, focusing on serving the catering needs of those advanced in age, empty nesters, those living alone, those incapacitated and those facing other special difficulties in order to help market entities reduce costs and increase efficiency, so as to achieve sustainable development.

Second, we will further strengthen category-based guidance. Based on the needs of the elderly and respecting their wishes, we will follow a fact-based approach to set goals and implementation procedures that are in accordance with local conditions, steadily expand the service network and improve service capacity.

Third, we will further promote experience and models. We will guide all localities to make good use of the central government's guiding funds, strive to set up a batch of high-quality venues offering assisted catering services and service brands, cultivate a batch of specialized, chained and large-scale institutions, create more perceptible, accessible and sustainable models, and do more practical work to develop assisted catering services, so as to deliver benefits to the elderly. Thank you!