China's new birth policy, raising the limit to three children per couple, is expected to maximize the population's role in driving economic and social growth and address the risks of a downward trend in fertility, according to the country's health authority.
This major policy shift was announced at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held on June 1.
China is at a critical juncture of strategic opportunity as the world's most populous country is transforming itself into a powerhouse with a quality workforce, the National Health Commission (NHC) said.
Population aging is a dominant demographic phenomenon around the globe and China is no exception. Statistics from the NHC showed that the proportion of China's population aged 60 years and older is expected to triple from over 10 percent in the late 1990s to over 30 percent around 2035.
The three-child policy is conducive to improving the age structure of the population, increasing the supply of a new labor force, easing inter-generational contradictions, and invigorating Chinese society, the commission said.
According to the meeting on June 1, the birth policy change will come with supportive measures, including improving prenatal and postnatal care services, developing a universal childcare service system, reducing family spending on education, strengthening tax and housing support, and safeguarding the lawful rights and interests of working women.
