2015年CRI Two-child Policy Expected to Be Approved by Lawmakers（在线收听）

As of the end of 2014, the number of people over 60 years old in China had reached 212 million, accounting for 15.5 percent of the total population. 

Of the 212 million, around one-in-five were considered either disabled or partially-disabled. 

Relaxation of the family planning policy is expected to provide part of the solution to the challenge of an aging population, and to become a new driver for the economy in the long run. 

Li Bin, head of National Health and Family Planning Commission, says the decision to eliminate the one-child policy will also bring with it other considerations for parents. 

"Couples who are allowed to have two children will be entitled to longer marriage and maternity leave if they have the second baby." 

Under the current laws, people who marry later or delay having kids are given more time off for weddings and maternity leave. 

Li Bin says these articles are going to be eliminated from the new draft, but says there are some exceptions. 

"The amendment will not affect the welfare programs enjoyed by the elderly whose family abides by the current family planning law, parents who have only one child and parents whose only child is disabled or dead." 

At the same time, embryo harvesting or surrogacy will remain illegal.

Those caught could face fines or even jail time. 

The new two-child policy is expected to add an extra 30 million more people to the labor force by 2050. 

It's also going to decrease China's elderly population by around 2-percent. 

For CRI, this is Wang Mengzhen.