Addressing issue of aging nations

Starting next year, many Japanese singles might have a higher possibility of finding their dream partner – through government-aided AI matchmaking services.
从明年开始，通过政府资助的人工智能相亲服务，许多日本单身人士也许会更有可能找到理想伴侣。

On Dec 7, a cabinet official told AFP that the government will subsidize local authorities 2 billion yen (about 126 million yuan) to boost the birth rate. Part of the fund will be used to support projects that use AI to pair people up. Although there are some existing matchmaking systems, which consider criteria such as income and age, the more advanced AI system will also take into account factors like hobbies and values.
12月7日，一名内阁官员向法新社表示，日本政府将资助各地方政府20亿日元（约合1.26亿元人民币），以提高出生率。部分资金将用于支持人工智能相亲项目。尽管目前的一些相亲系统会考虑收入、年龄等标准，但更先进的人工智能系统还会考虑爱好和价值观等因素。

Japan has one of the world’s lowest fertility rates. The number of babies born in Japan in 2019 fell below 865,000 – the lowest record since 1899, according to the BBC. As a major reason for the aging population, the fast-graying nation has long been searching for ways to improve the situation. Boosting the use of AI tech is one of its latest efforts.
日本是全球生育率最低的国家之一。据英国广播公司报道，2019年日本新生儿数量下降至86.5万以下 —— 这是自1899年来的最低记录。日本老龄化速度很快，这也成为了人口老龄化的主要原因，日本也一直寻找办法改善现状。推动人工智能技术的应用就是日本最近做出的一大努力。

An aging population is not just a problem in Japan. Globally, mankind is growing in number and age. According to the United Nations, the world population is expected to reach 9.7 billion in 2050. While by 2050, one in six people in the world will be over age 65.
人口老龄化并不仅是日本一个国家面临的问题。从全球来看，人口数量和年龄都在增长。联合国表示，世界人口预计在2050年达到97亿。与此同时，截至2050年，世界六分之一的人口将超过65岁。

In China, the problem is even greater. By the end of 2019, the number of people aged 60 or above in China was 254 million, or 18.1 percent of the total population. By 2050, the number is expected to increase to 500 million, making China one of the world’s most aged societies. Roughly two working adults will need to support one senior citizen.
在中国，这一问题甚至更加严峻。截至2019年底，中国60岁及以上人口数量为2.54亿，占总人口的18.1%。截至2050年，这一数字预计将增长到5亿，使中国成为老龄化最严重的社会之一。到时大约两个成年劳动力需要供养一个老年人。

In addition to the smaller portion of the young labor force, an aging society also puts more pressure on the healthcare and pension systems.
除了年轻劳动力数量占比减少之外，老龄化社会也给医疗和养老体系带来了更多压力。

China has taken measures to deal with the aging population.
中国已经开始采取措施应对人口老龄化。

China loosened its family planning policy in 2015 to allow all couples to have two children. The government has also been improving the elderly care sector. By June 2020, China had 220,000 nursing institutions, with over 7.9 million beds, among which 50 percent are private, according to China Daily.
2015年，中国放宽了计划生育政策，全面开放二孩。政府也一直在改进养老体系。据《中国日报》报道，截至2020年6月，中国已有22万家养老服务机构，790多万床位，其中一半为民营机构。

In the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), there is also a focus on care for the elderly population. The government will develop a social environment where the rights and interests of the elderly are better protected, said Yuan Xina, a professor at Nankai University.
在“十四五”规划中，养老问题也是关注的重点。南开大学教授袁希娜（音）表示，政府将营造更好保护老年人权益的社会环境。

以上文章内容选自《21世纪学生英文报高中版》，详情请见《21世纪学生英文报高中版》高一816期