Starting next year, many Japanese singles might have a higher possibility of finding their dream partner – through government-aided AI matchmaking services.
從明年開始，通過政府資助的人工智能相親服務，許多日本單身人士也許會更有可能找到理想伴侶。

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，一名內閣官員向法新社表示，日本政府將資助各地方政府20億日元（約合1.26億元人民幣），以提高出生率。部分資金將用于支持人工智能相親項目。盡管目前的一些相親系統(tǒng)會考慮收入、年齡等標準，但更先進的人工智能系統(tǒng)還會考慮愛好和價值觀等因素。

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國家之一。據(jù)英國廣播公司報道，2019年日本新生兒數(shù)量下降至86.5萬以下 —— 這是自1899年來的最低記錄。日本老齡化速度很快，這也成為了人口老齡化的主要原因，日本也一直尋找辦法改善現(xiàn)狀。推動人工智能技術的應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.
人口老齡化并不僅是日本一個國家面臨的問題。從全球來看，人口數(shù)量和年齡都在增長。聯(lián)合國表示，世界人口預計在2050年達到97億。與此同時，截至2050年，世界六分之一的人口將超過65歲。

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.
在中國，這一問題甚至更加嚴峻。截至2019年底，中國60歲及以上人口數(shù)量為2.54億，占總人口的18.1%。截至2050年，這一數(shù)字預計將增長到5億，使中國成為老齡化最嚴重的社會之一。到時大約兩個成年勞動力需要供養(yǎng)一個老年人。

In addition to the smaller portion of the young labor force, an aging society also puts more pressure on the healthcare and pension systems.
除了年輕勞動力數(shù)量占比減少之外，老齡化社會也給醫(yī)療和養(yǎng)老體系帶來了更多壓力。

China has taken measures to deal with the aging population.
中國已經開始采取措施應對人口老齡化。

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，中國放寬了計劃生育政策，全面開放二孩。政府也一直在改進養(yǎng)老體系。據(jù)《中國日報》報道，截至2020年6月，中國已有22萬家養(yǎng)老服務機構，790多萬床位，其中一半為民營機構。

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”規(guī)劃中，養(yǎng)老問題也是關注的重點。南開大學教授袁希娜（音）表示，政府將營造更好保護老年人權益的社會環(huán)境。

以上文章內容選自《21世紀學生英文報高中版》，詳情請見《21世紀學生英文報高中版》高一816期