One-child policy becomes controversial topic (Xinhua) Updated: 2005-12-29 20:54
Future destiny of China's once-ambitious family planning policy has become a
controversial topic in the academic circle.
A woman shows her one-child certificate in
Fuyang, Anhui Province in this November 14, 2005 photo.
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At a recent forum on China's population and economy hosted by the Beijing
University, the family planning policy was challenged by a number of Chinese
scholars and government officials.
An unanimous opinion from the forum showed China should mull its population
policy in a more scientific way and seek a proper resolution.
Since China launched its family planning policy three decades ago, most
couples have only one child. Disputes are now raised across the country over the
expanding gray generation and skewed gender ratio.
Official statistics showed that China now ranks in the low-birth-rate club
with a population natural growth rate of 0.9 per thousand.
At the same time, people above age 65 make up 7.6
percent of China's total population, a sign of a quicker pace into an aging
society.
The gender gap among children born in China has been widened in recent years.
Figures show that the average ratio of boys to girls was 117 to 100, exceeding
the norm of 105 to 100.
Chinese economists said at the forum that the imbalanced
population structure and aging population are likely to be a bottleneck of
China's long-term economic growth and bring about a series of economic and
social problems.
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