Greater role for SOEs sought in eldercare

China should support capable State-owned enterprises, both centrally and locally administered, in developing community-based home care service systems, said a national legislator on Monday.

SOEs have the advantages of funding, resource allocation, brand trust and industry synergy, which enable them to effectively enhance the quality and sustainability of eldercare services, said Yu Xubo, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

Driven by a trend of smaller family structures and traditional elderly care culture, more than 90 percent of senior citizens in China prefer home-based care, making the development of community-based home care services imperative, said Yu, who is also chairman of China General Technology (Group) Holding Co Ltd (Genertec), a Beijing-headquartered centrally administered SOE.