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| Shanghai backs 'two-child policy' | Shanghai backs 'two-child policy' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The government in the Chinese city of Shanghai is to encourage some parents to have a second child. | The government in the Chinese city of Shanghai is to encourage some parents to have a second child. |
| The China Daily newspaper reported that only parents who were themselves both only children would be eligible. | The China Daily newspaper reported that only parents who were themselves both only children would be eligible. |
| The goal is to reduce the proportion of aging people in the population, and reduce future workforce shortages. | The goal is to reduce the proportion of aging people in the population, and reduce future workforce shortages. |
| Decades of a strictly enforced one-child policy has produced new strains across the population and prompted exceptions in some family categories. | Decades of a strictly enforced one-child policy has produced new strains across the population and prompted exceptions in some family categories. |
| China's family planning policy has been relaxed in recent years to allow second children, but what is different now is that Shanghai is actively encouraging the change. | China's family planning policy has been relaxed in recent years to allow second children, but what is different now is that Shanghai is actively encouraging the change. |
| Family planning officials and volunteers will make home visits and slip leaflets under doors to encourage couples to have a second child if both grew up as only children, the China Daily said. | Family planning officials and volunteers will make home visits and slip leaflets under doors to encourage couples to have a second child if both grew up as only children, the China Daily said. |
| Emotional and financial counselling will also be provided, officials said. | Emotional and financial counselling will also be provided, officials said. |
| Policy relaxed | Policy relaxed |
| "We advocate eligible couples to have two kids because it can help reduce the proportion of the aging people and alleviate a workforce shortage in the future," said Xie Lingli, director of the Shanghai Population and Family Planning Commission. | "We advocate eligible couples to have two kids because it can help reduce the proportion of the aging people and alleviate a workforce shortage in the future," said Xie Lingli, director of the Shanghai Population and Family Planning Commission. |
| Shanghai, the country's most populous city, has more than three million registered residents aged 60 and above, nearly 22% of the population. By 2020, the proportion is expected to rise to about 34%, the China Daily said. | Shanghai, the country's most populous city, has more than three million registered residents aged 60 and above, nearly 22% of the population. By 2020, the proportion is expected to rise to about 34%, the China Daily said. |
| The state-controlled newspaper quoted one salesman who said he was cheered by the new attitude. | The state-controlled newspaper quoted one salesman who said he was cheered by the new attitude. |
| Shanghai is apparently considered wealthy enough to cope | Shanghai is apparently considered wealthy enough to cope |
| "I'm not sure, but such policy really gives us one more option. If family finance permits, I want to have two kids with my wife in the future," said 25-year-old Xiao Wang, who works at a local company. | "I'm not sure, but such policy really gives us one more option. If family finance permits, I want to have two kids with my wife in the future," said 25-year-old Xiao Wang, who works at a local company. |
| But the paper also highlighted objections to the idea. | But the paper also highlighted objections to the idea. |
| "I don't think we will have a second kid," said 26-year-old Xiao Chen, an office worker. "After all, it is stressful work raising a child." | "I don't think we will have a second kid," said 26-year-old Xiao Chen, an office worker. "After all, it is stressful work raising a child." |
| Couples who ignore China's birth control policies usually pay fines and may face discrimination at work. | Couples who ignore China's birth control policies usually pay fines and may face discrimination at work. |
| The many only children of China have earned the nickname of "little emperors" for the love and treats lavished upon them. | The many only children of China have earned the nickname of "little emperors" for the love and treats lavished upon them. |
| China's birth-control policies have been hugely controversial at home and abroad, as enforcement has involved forced abortions and other abuses. | China's birth-control policies have been hugely controversial at home and abroad, as enforcement has involved forced abortions and other abuses. |
| It has also been blamed for a gender imbalance, as a traditional preference for boys has persuaded some parents to abort girl foetuses. | It has also been blamed for a gender imbalance, as a traditional preference for boys has persuaded some parents to abort girl foetuses. |
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