China to Abolish Decades-Old One-Child Policy
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The official Xinhua News Agency says China's ruling Communist Party has decided to abolish the country's one-child policy and allow all couples to have two children.
It cited a communique issued by the ruling Communist Party on Thursday after a four-day meeting in Beijing to chart the course of the nation over the next five years.
China is "abandoning its decades-long one-child policy", Xinhua reported.
The restriction was introduced in 1980 as a way to curb the population and limit demands for water and other resources.
The controversial policy restricted most couples to only a single offspring, and for years authorities argued that it was a key contributor to China's economic boom.
But after years of strict enforcement by a dedicated government commission, China's population - the world's largest - is now ageing rapidly, gender imbalances are severe, and its workforce is shrinking.
The concerns led to limited reforms in 2013, including allowing a second child for some couples in urban areas, but relatively few have taken up the opportunity.
