World marks seniors’ day tomorrow

The world will pay respects to the elderly tomorrow. The United Nations General Assembly voted in 1990 to establish Oct 1 as the International Day of Older Persons. It is similar to the Double Ninth Festival in China, Respect for the Aged Day in Japan and the National Grandparents Day in the United States. The total number of people over 60 in China reached 220 million at the end of last year, accounting for 16 percent of the population, according to the National Health and Family Planning Commission.