Chinese gov't to maintain one-child policy as world population nears 7 billion

Chinese gov't to maintain one-child policy as world population nears 7 billion

2011-10-31 00:16:30 GMT+7 (ICT)

BEIJING (BNO NEWS) -- The Chinese government will adhere to its controversial one-child policy to maintain a low reproduction rate, the country's family planning chief said on Sunday as the world population is expected to reach seven billion.

The family planning policy was introduced in 1978 and makes it illegal for approximately 35.9 percent of China's population, mainly urban couples, to have more than one child. Hong Kong and Macau are exempt from the policy, which has been blamed for forced abortions, female infanticide and other problems.

As the United Nations projects the world population will reach 7 billion on Monday, China's family planning chief said over-population remains one of the major challenges to social and economic development. He said the population of China is expected to hit 1.45 billion in 2020.

"The population of China would have hit 1.7 billion had it not been for the family planning policy, and it would have created more difficulties for society," Li Bin, director of the State Population and Family Planning Commission, told the state-run Xinhua news agency.

Zhai Zhenwu, a leading Chinese demographer, told Xinhua that the world population would have reached 7 billion about five years ago if China had not introduced its family planning policy. With 1.34 billion citizens, China is the most populous nation in the world.

"The Chinese government seriously fulfills the World Population Plan of Action and the Millennium Development Goals set by the United Nations, making positive contributions to the world's population development," Li said

The family planning chief said the policy has created a more favorable environment for the country's economic development and social stability by alleviating demand for fundamentals including education, employment and housing.

However, Li recognized that China still faces other population-related challenges such as gender imbalance and an aging population. For every 100 girls born in 2010, 118 boys were born. And 13.26 percent of China's population are aged 60 or above, a number which is set to significantly increase.

"We must stick to the existing policy, raise the quality of the population and optimize its structure, so as to reach the sustainable development of population, society, environment and economy," Li told Xinhua.

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