China will not fully relax family planning policy—official
In this Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012, file photo, a Chinese woman plays with her grandchild at the Ritan Park in Beijing. China’s ruling Communist Party announced Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, that it will abolish the country’s decades-old one-child policy and allow all couples to have two children, removing remaining restrictions that limited many urban couples to only one, the official Xinhua News Agency said. AP File Photo
BEIJING, China—China’s family planning policy will not change in the foreseeable future, and there are no plans for a complete relaxation currently, a top health official said Tuesday.
Li Bin, head of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, made the remarks when addressing a press conference on the sidelines of the country’s annual legislative session.
As of 2015, the Chinese population numbered 1.375 billion, compared to 320 million in the United States, the world’s largest economy.
READ: China’s new two-child policy law takes effect
Li said China’s per capita economic output was “considerably low” as was the average living standard.
“Our resources pale in comparison with our vast population. Until this changes, we will continue with the current family planning policy,” she said.
“There is no timetable for the full relaxation of the policy [although] it will continue to be improved and adjusted,” she added.
China this year allowed all married couples to have two children. This follows an earlier easing of the policy in 2013 that allowed couples to have a second child if either parent was an only child.
READ: China officially ends one child policy with signing of law
The latest change ended the “one child” policy since it was implemented in the late 1970s.
The two-child policy will see 3 million more children born in China every year.
