China eases one-child policy

China's top legislature has resolved to allow couples to have two children if either parent is an only child. This is a major change of the decades-long family planning policy in the world's most populous country.

In this yearend report, we'll hear about the potential implementation and impact of the new policies.

Under the previous regulation, Chinese couples could have two children if both are the only children of their family.

Mao Quan'an, spokesperson for the National Health and Family-planning commission, says the organization has done a lot of research into the changes.

"The priority of our investigation was to look into the relationship among population numbers, population quality, structure and distribution. Following our analysis, the commission came up with ideas and solutions in order to improve the one-child policy."

With the new regulation, Chinese couples will be allowed to have two children if one of them is an only child. The decision has sparked a lot of discussion here in China.

"I have no plans to have a second child. I think one child is enough and we can put out all our efforts to take care of him."

"Most of my peers were born after the 1980s as the only child in their families. This means that as their parents get older, they can only be taken care of by one child. So if we can have a second child, not only will the child have a companion, but parents can also recieve more care from their children as they age."

A survey conducted on Sina Weibo indicates that more than 60-percent of respondents say they would like to have a second child.

Zhai Zhenwu, a demographics professor at Renmin University of China, says the adjustment of the one-child policy could allow the government time to address the issue of China's aging society.

"With the one-child policy adjusted, the aging of the society will slow down. But it cannot change the overall direction of the Chinese society in terms of its ageing population. China is not young any more."

Consequently, with the easing of the one-child policy after three decades, one of the main concerns has been the possibility of a new baby boom.

However, Zhang Chewei, a demographics expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, says this is highly unlikely.

"According to the current birth rate trends, I think the decision will have a limited impact on the population growth rate. In the past, it was common for people to deliver many children. But nowadays, that trend has fundamentally changed."　

But at the same time, a rising number of eligible couples are asking for a specific schedule for the implementation of the new policy.

Wang Pei'an is a deputy director with the National Health and Family Planning Commission. He says there will be no uniform timetable nationwide.

"Local authorities can decide when to take the new policy into effect based on the condition of the local population and the region's social and economic development. But my commission has instructed local authorities do not wait too long to implement the new policy."

Demographics professor Zhai Zhenwu says local governments need some of time to figure out the effects the new policy will bring.

"I think the period of time will not be very long. I know local authorities have different requirements and standards about the one-child policy regulations. The regulations will be revised through standing committee of local people's congress."

The adjustment of the one-child policy comes as this country's labor force has begun shrinking for the first time in over a decade.

However, Zhai Zhenwu says it would not be a good idea to completely scrap the one-child policy at this time. But in the long term, he believes the government is moving toward canceling the policy step by step.