2015年CRI China Considers to Loose Second Child Policy

 

Currently, one in ten Chinese citizens is 65 or above. 

And this proportion is likely to increase to one third by the year of 2050. 

Meanwhile, the working population is also aging. 

Wang Jun, professor at Sun Yat-Sen University, says this trend would pose a threat to China's economic vitality¹. 

"Migrant workers and others in the working population are also aging, which may affect our country's economic vitality. The situation can be improved to a certain extent by changing the birth policy."

A major policy change at the end of 2013 allowed couples nationwide to have a second baby if either parent is an only child. 

Initial estimates suggested two million more babies would be born annually² as a result of the change. 

However, the actual increase last year was only half a million. 

Many parents say they couldn't afford a second baby. 

"Now I'm working and my wife takes care of our son. If we have a second child, both of us would have to work and hire a nanny, but we can't afford that."

However, this doesn't necessarily mean most parents are against the loosening of the second child policy. 

Experts say it would be better if the government would assess whether the current number of hospitals, schools and other facilities could meet future demand before making the decision. 

China introduced its family planning policy to control population growth in the late 1970s. 

According to the policy, most urban couples could only have one child, and most rural couples could have two if their first child was a girl. 

For CRI, this is Li Jianhua.

1 vitality   

n.活力，生命力，效力

参考例句：

• He came back from his holiday bursting with vitality and good health.他度假归来之后，身强体壮，充满活力。
• He is an ambitious young man full of enthusiasm and vitality.他是个充满热情与活力的有远大抱负的青年。

2 annually   

adv.一年一次，每年

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。