Parallel Sessions

As populations age, the Silver Economy is becoming an increasingly important source of economic activity and opportunity across Asia. The discussion will consider older people’s consumption, economic contributions and emerging national approaches. Participants will gain insights into its potential and how enabling environments can support older people as both consumers and economic contributors.

Moderator

• Sun Yuling, Professor, Fudan University, China

Presentation

• The Silver Economy in Asia: Realizing Opportunities and Overcoming Barriers Philip O'Keefe, Professor of Practice, University of New South Wales Centre for Population Ageing Research (CEPAR), Australia
• Recent Development of Silver Economy in China Peng Xizhe, Director, Institute on Ageing, Fudan University, China / Vice President, Fudan Development Research Institute
• Integrated Redesign for a Successful Longevity Society and Economy Wei Yang Cheong, Vice Provost (Strategic Research Partnerships), Singapore Management University
• Unlocking the Silver Economy: Asia-Pacific’s Next Growth Frontier Camilo Gudmalin, Commissioner, National Commission of Senior Citizens, Philippines

Employment, productive engagement and income security in later life are important foundations of the Silver Economy. Drawing on different experiences across Asia, the discussion will explore how older people generate income and contribute economically. Participants will consider policies and workplace practices that support longer working lives, financial security and continued economic participation.

Moderator

• Maliki, Vice Minister, Ministry of National Development Planning, Indonesia

Presentation

• Labor Force Participation and Financial Preparedness at Older Ages in Asia Aiko Kikkawa, Principal Economist, Asian Development Bank, Philippines
• Trends in Old-Age Income in China: Evidence from CHARLS 2011/12–2025 Zhao Yaohui, Professor, School of Economics at the Dongfureng Institute of Social and Economic Development and School of Economics and Management at Wuhan University, China
• Healthy Enough to Work? Health, Work Capacity, and Income Security in an Ageing Korea Sungchul Park, Professor, Department of Health Policy and Management, Korea University, Republic of Korea
• Silver Economy in Vietnam: Potential and Issues in Labor and Social Protection Perspectives Long Thanh Giang, Professor, National Economics University, Vietnam

Discussant

• Sustaining the Passion of Youth, Savouring the Joy of Work Xie Guandou, Pre-Vice President, Shanghai Juling Digital Technology (Group) Co., Ltd., China
• An Initial Exploration of Digitizing Older People’s Intellectual and Life Assets Wu Hanzhang, Founder, The "Old Kids" Community / Director, Shanghai Technology for Elderly Care Center, China
• Usa Khiewrord, Head of International Relations, Foundation for Older Persons' Development (FOPDEV), Thailand

How can social protection provide financial security in later life while remaining sustainable and equitable across generations? The discussion will consider pension coverage, informal workers, family support and different financing approaches. Participants will gain insights into policy options that strengthen protection for older people while balancing the needs and responsibilities of different generations.

Moderator

• Philip O'Keefe, Professor of Practice, University of New South Wales Centre for Population Ageing Research (CEPAR), Australia

Presentation

• Old-Age Support Systems in Asia Sang-Hyop Lee, Professor, Department of Economics, University of Hawaii; Chair, Global NTA Network, USA
• China’s Multi-pillar Pension Benefits and Adequacy of Retirement Wealth Feng Jin, Distinguished Professor, Fudan University, China
• Expanding Pension Coverage among Informal Workers: India’s Experience with the Atal Pension Yojana Harsh Kothari, Social Protection Specialist, World Bank, India
• Thailand’s Pension Schemes for Informal Sector Workers Nonarit Bisonyabut, Senior Fellow, Thailand Development Research Institute Foundation (TDRI), Thailand
• Social Pensions in Asia and the Pacific: Evidence on the Feasibility, Affordability and Impact of Ensuring Income Security for All in Older Age Florian Juergens-Grant, Social Protection Adviser, HelpAge International

Older people’s changing needs, preferences and purchasing power are creating new opportunities across Asian markets. From health and care to finance, tourism, food, housing and leisure, the discussion will examine emerging areas of demand. Participants will explore how businesses and policymakers can respond to diverse older consumers and encourage inclusive innovation.

Moderator

• Abhijit Visaria, Technical Advisor, Population Dynamics, UNFPA Asia Pacific Regional Office

Presentation

• Older Consumers in Asymmetric Ageing Asia: From Silver Consumption to Smart Care Across Three Market Stages Ding Hans, Founder and CEO, iZhaohu AI-Care, China
• Silver Economy Report by Ageing Asia Janice Chia, Founder and Managing Director, Ageing Asia

Panelist

• “Taiping Enjoy Home” Home-Based Elderly Care Service System Li Sihua, Assistant General Manager (Designate), Taiping Life Insurance Co., Ltd., China
• Tongcheng Travel’s Efforts in Silver Economy Yin Shuhu, Vice President, Tongcheng Travel Group, China
• Public Welfare Driven Elderly Technology Incubation Liu Yushan, Business Director, Tencent SSV Time Lab, China Sessions

Financing is fundamental to building long-term care systems that are sustainable, equitable and accessible. Drawing on experiences across the region, the discussion will compare approaches including taxation and mandatory insurance. Participants will gain insights into the strengths and trade-offs of different models and practical considerations for developing or reforming long-term care financing.

Moderator

• Najibullah Habib, Principal Health Specialist, Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Presentation

• Sustainable Financing for Long-Term Care (LTC) in Australia Nicole Sutton, Associate Professor, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
• LTC Insurance (LTCI) in South Korea Soonman Kwon, Professor and Former Dean, School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Republic of Korea
• Development of China’s Long-Term Care Insurance System Wang Zongfan, Director and Researcher, Department of Medical Security and Long-Term Care Security Research, Chinese Academy of Labor and Social Security, China
• Financing Long-Term Care for Older People in Japan Taichi Ono, Vice President and Professor, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), Japan

Effective long-term care depends on strong coordination across ministries, levels of government, health and social care systems, and service providers. Participants will examine different governance arrangements and how they shape financing, accountability and service delivery. The discussion will highlight practical lessons for strengthening coordination and building more integrated and person-centred long-term care systems.

Moderator

• Soonman Kwon, Professor and Former Dean, School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Republic of Korea

Panelist

• Sunghun Yun, Assistant Professor, Gachon University, Republic of Korea
• Paul Ong, Deputy Chief Executive Officer & Chief Strategy Officer, Tsao Foundation, Singapore
• Emiko Masaki, Principal Health Specialist, Asian Development Bank (ADB)
• Sriromi Maduwage, Senior Public Health Specialist, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka
• Prasert Assantachai, Emeritus Professor, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University; President, Thai Society of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine

Putting people’s needs, preferences and dignity at the centre of long-term care requires services to work together effectively. The discussion will cover integrated, institutional, home- and community-based models, collaboration among key actors, and the role of technology. Participants will learn how care can become more coordinated, responsive and centred on the individual.

Moderator

• Lu Jiehua, Professor, School of Population and Health, Renmin University of China; Founding Director, Institute for National Strategic Studies on Ageing, Peking University, China

Presentation

• The Development of Person-Centred Care in Australia: Policy Reforms and Quality Improvement Lu Bei, Senior Research Fellow, The University of New South Wales, Australia
• Trends of Older Adults with Disabilities in China and Key Issues in Long-Term Care Services Sun Juanjuan, Professor, Renmin University, China
• From Insurance to Integration: Person-Centered Long-Term Care in South Korea Hongsoo Kim, Professor, Seoul National University, South Korea
• Person-Centred Care in Action: Integrating Care Management and Community Partnerships to Sustain Living Well in the Community Yong Leong Ying, Assistant Director, Clinical Leadership Team, Hua Mei Community Care Management Services, Tsao Foundation, Singapore
• Scaling the ICOPE Approach in Chinese Communities: A Multi-Center Implementation Study Wang Ninie, Postdoctoral Fellow of Aging & Health, New York University Shanghai, China

Meeting growing demand for long-term care requires a skilled, sufficient and well-supported workforce. Key issues include professional standards, training, career development, support for family caregivers and the potential role of technology. Participants will explore practical approaches to building a sustainable and valued care workforce capable of responding to changing needs.

Moderator

• Rhea Tariq, Director of Global Impact, HelpAge International, United Kingdom

Presentation

• From Triple Challenge to Triple Win: Building Nurse-Led Integrated Care through Leadership, Capacity Building, and AI Innovation Hyun Joo Youn, Senior Social Development Specialist, Asian Development Bank, Philippines
• The “Zhi Ji Pu Rong Tong” Talent Development Model for Elderly Care Services Chen Dongying, Director, Science and Technology Department at Guangdong Open University, China
• Training System of Care Workers and Employment of Foreign Care Workers in Japan Yomei Nakatani, Professor and Chair, Graduate School of Gerontology, J. F. Oberlin University, Japan
• Viet Nam’s Experience in Building and Sustaining a Community-Based Care Workforce through Intergenerational Self-Help Clubs Viet Nga Chu, Head of Consulting, Vietnam Organisation for Better Ageing (VIOBA), Vietnam
• Cultivation System for Elderly Care Professionals: The Macao Experience Leong Sok Man, Vice-President and Professor, Kiang Wu Nursing College, Macau, China

What does it take to turn age-friendly policies into meaningful change in people’s everyday lives? Drawing on experiences across the region, participants will explore accessible infrastructure, responsive services, community engagement and networks. The discussion will highlight practical approaches and partnerships that can help create more inclusive environments for older people and communities as a whole.

Moderator

• Thiago Hérick de Sá, Technical Officer, Age-Friendly Environments, Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention Department, World Health Organization (WHO)

Presentation

• Development of Social Security in the Context of Building an Age-Friendly Society: Achievements, Challenges, and the Way Forward Wang Jiexiu, President, China Association for Social Governance; Professor, Institute of Social Policy at Zhejiang Gongshang University, China
• Implementation of Age-Friendly Cities in China Wang Lili, Senior Research Fellow, China Research Center on Ageing
• Healthy and Age-Inclusive Cities for the Emerging Four-Generation Urban Society Stefan Rau, Principal Urban Development Specialist, Asian Development Bank (ADB)
• Research and Knowledge Translation in Age-Friendly Communities Kathleen Brasher, Advisor to WHO Global Network for AFCC and Research Fellow, La Trobe University, Australia
• From Policy to Practice: Changunarayan Municipality’s Journey Towards an Age-Friendly City through SAHARA Project Dinesh Thapa, Head of Disaster Management Unit, Changunarayan Municipality, Nepal

Community-based organisations can play a powerful role in ensuring that older people have a voice in shaping their communities. Through examples from across the region, participants will explore approaches to empowerment, participation and collaboration with local authorities, and learn how community-led models can contribute to more responsive and inclusive age-friendly communities.

Moderator

• Alison Marshall, Chief Executive Officer, Age International, United Kingdom

Presentation

• Practices of OPAs in Creation of Age-Friendly Communities in Shaanxi Province of China Deng Xueyi, Deputy Chairman, Shaanxi Ageing Development Foundation, China
• How to Empower Seniors to Become Active Members of the Community—Tencent’s Exploration and Practice Zhang Hairuo, Deputy General Manager of Public Affairs Department, Tencent Group; Director, China Social Welfare Foundation
• Intergenerational Self-Help Clubs and Age-Friendly Communities in Vietnam Quyen Tran, Senior Advisor, Vietnam Organisation for Better Ageing (VIOBA), Vietnam
• Living with Dignity & Empowerment: Empowering Rural Older People through Community-Based Collectives in India Girish Mishra, Mission Head, Livelihoods and Resilience and Lead for Elder Self Help Groups Program, HelpAge India
• From Voice to Action: Older Persons Organizations Advancing Age-Friendly Communities in the Philippines Emily Beridico, Director, Coalition of Services of the Elderly (COSE), Philippines

Digitalization and AI offer new ways to support independence, participation and connection in ageing societies. Applications in digital health, community care, assistive technologies and social connectivity will be explored alongside challenges around access, literacy, privacy and governance. Participants will consider how digital solutions can contribute to inclusive and age-friendly societies without deepening existing inequalities.

Moderator

• Liu Jianbing, Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Smart Ageing, Beijing Academy of Science and Technology (BJAST), China

Presentation

• Actively Responding to Population Ageing and Cultivating Elderly Care Service Professionals Tu Qilei, Dean and Professor, School of Senior Welfare, China Civil Affairs University, China
• Digitally Inclusive Healthy Ageing Communities (DIHAC): A Cross-Cultural Study in Japan, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, India, and Beyond Myo Nyein Aung, Associate Professor, Department of Global Health Research, Juntendo University, Japan
• Digital Innovation Across the Life Course: Supporting Productive Ageing, Community Care and Demographic Resilience Adhipat Warangkanand, Programme Analyst on Population and Development, UNFPA Thailand
• Intergenerational Self-Help Clubs and Digital Inclusion in Vietnam Tran Bich Thuy, Country Director, HelpAge International in Viet Nam; Executive Director, Vietnam Organization for Better Ageing (VIOBA)
• Empowering Silver-Age Population, Building an Age-Friendly Future: China’s Explorations and International Outlook on Digital-Enabled Active Response to Population Ageing Qin Dongrui, Deputy Secretary-General, China Ageing Development Foundation; Secretary-General, Expert Committee of China Ageing Development Foundation
• Digital Intelligence for an Ageing Society: A New “Smart HealthGuard” Model for Older Populations Based on Real-World Cohorts Zhu Guoping, Chief Scientist, China Electronics Corporation (CEC); Chief Engineer, China Electronics Cloud Technology Co., Ltd. (China Electronics Cloud)

Ageism can shape older people’s opportunities, rights, participation and representation in many areas of life. Looking at both attitudes and institutional practices, the discussion will explore changing narratives, stronger policies and intergenerational solidarity. Participants will take away practical approaches to challenging ageism and fostering societies that value people’s contributions and diversity across the life course.

Moderator

• Ruttiya Bhula-or, Associate Professor, College of Population Studies, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

Presentation

• Navigating Ageism in China: Theoretical Foundations, Policy Innovations, and Practical Pathways under the Law on the Protection of Elderly Rights Li Chao, Professor, Business School, China University of Political Science and Law, China
• Eliminating Age Discrimination and Building an Inclusive Senior Consumer Market Wu Xiaolan, Senior Researcher, China Research Center on Ageing
• Reframing Ageing Reuben Ng, Associate Professor, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore
• The Age Trap: How Ageism Shapes Our Work, Health and Future Vania de la Fuente Núñez, Founder and Principal Consultant, Vânia de la Fuente Advisory, Spain; Global Healthy Ageing Lead, The Fred Hollows Foundation, Australia
• Rethinking Old Age: How Better Measures of Ageing Can Challenge Ageism Serguei Scherbov, Distinguished Emeritus Research Scholar and Honorary Professor, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Austria

Session Remarks

• Gao Chengyun, Director, China Research Center on Ageing