Vice premier calls for respect for elderly

BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Vice Premier Hui Liangyu has called on the Chinese public to give more respect to elderly people and traditional virtues.

Hui, who also heads the National Commission on Aging, said Thursday that respecting and helping older people is "the collective responsibility of the whole of society."

Hui made the comments in his instruction on a national campaign that is launched to raise awareness of the country's aging population, better protect the rights and interests of the elderly and improve their life quality.

Efforts should be made to "cultivate a social atmosphere of respecting the elderly," he said.

China had about 185 million people above the age of 60 as of the end of last year, official statistics show.