New York, Sep 27 (DPA) Declaring he has a stake in the fate of older people, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan asked governments to build a society for all ages in a message to mark the International Day for Older Persons on October 1.

"But I am only one of 600 million people in the world over the age of 60," Annan said, adding that the ageing population now remains productive while living longer. The world population stood at more than 6.5 billion in July.

"The whole world stands to gain from an empowered older generation, with the potential to make tremendous contributions to the development process and to the work of building more productive, peaceful and sustainable societies," he said.

The international day this year is focussed on improving the quality of life for older people. It involves ensuring housing, transportation and other living conditions that help older people remain independent.