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Aging News & Information
U.S. Summit on Global Aging Highlights the Trends and
Challenges
Sec. of State Rice says the impact is ‘enormous and
complex’
 March 16, 2007 – The challenges of an aging
population in the world were the focus of a half-day Summit on Global
Aging yesterday at the U.S. State Department, where Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice said in the keynote speech, “The impact of global aging
is enormous and complex.” The discussions focused on a new report on
global aging prepared by three government agencies.
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary
Michael Leavitt gave the opening remarks at the summit, which was led by
Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs, Paula J.
Dobriansky. The Summit included experts from government, universities,
and the private sector as panelists.
In many parts of the world, people are living
longer and healthier lives. For the first time in history, people 65
years old and over will soon outnumber children under age 5.
“Global aging is an opportunity, indeed, it's a
wonderful blessing, for the simple reason that humankind’s most
fundamental desire -- the desire to live longer and healthier lives --
is now being realized, and realized not just in wealthy nations, but
also in developing nations,” said Rice.
“This means that more children of the world will
have the opportunity to know their grandparents, perhaps even their
great-grandparents, and to look forward to full lives in which to
realize their many dreams.”
She pointed out that this “is an issue that is
happening now and at an accelerating pace.”
And, she added, “The United States is eager to work
shoulder to shoulder with our international partners to address the
concerns of our aging citizens.”
A State Department news release said,
“International cooperation will help countries plan and better address
our common concern for the issues related to worldwide aging.
“By convening the Summit on Global Aging, the
United States wishes to catalyze greater international dialogue and
encourage coordinated international studies about the health, economic,
social, and security implications of this important issue.”
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Why Population Aging Matters: A Global
Perspective was prepared by the Department of State and the
Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health,
National Institute on Aging.
To read more about the report, click here. |
>>
Click here to view video of speech by
Sec. Rice
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