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| Shanghai urges 'two-child policy' | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Officials in Shanghai are urging parents to have a second child, the first time in decades the government has actively encouraged procreation. | Officials in Shanghai are urging parents to have a second child, the first time in decades the government has actively encouraged procreation. |
| A public information campaign has been launched to highlight exemptions to the country's one-child policy. | A public information campaign has been launched to highlight exemptions to the country's one-child policy. |
| Couples who were both only children, which includes most of the city's newly-weds, are allowed a second child. | Couples who were both only children, which includes most of the city's newly-weds, are allowed a second child. |
| The move comes as China's most populous city becomes richer and older, with the number of retired residents soaring. | The move comes as China's most populous city becomes richer and older, with the number of retired residents soaring. |
| "Shanghai's over-60 population already exceeds three million, or 21.6% of registered residents," said Zhang Meixin, a spokesman for the city's Municipal Population and Family Planning Commission. | "Shanghai's over-60 population already exceeds three million, or 21.6% of registered residents," said Zhang Meixin, a spokesman for the city's Municipal Population and Family Planning Commission. |
| Leaflet campaign | Leaflet campaign |
| He said the current average number of children born to a woman over her lifetime was less than one. | He said the current average number of children born to a woman over her lifetime was less than one. |
| ANALYSIS Micky Bristow, BBC News Chinese and foreign experts have been saying for some time that China needs to change its strict family planning rules. | ANALYSIS Micky Bristow, BBC News Chinese and foreign experts have been saying for some time that China needs to change its strict family planning rules. |
| If the country continues as it is, the proportion of elderly people in society will continue to increase. | If the country continues as it is, the proportion of elderly people in society will continue to increase. |
| This is a problem because it will leave a smaller group of workers paying for the country's retired population. | This is a problem because it will leave a smaller group of workers paying for the country's retired population. |
| But central government officials have consistently ruled out changing the national family planning policy. | But central government officials have consistently ruled out changing the national family planning policy. |
| They still believe that China has too many people - an opinion shared by almost everyone in the country. | They still believe that China has too many people - an opinion shared by almost everyone in the country. |
| That has left individual cities, such as Shanghai, to think up ways of coping with their own ageing communities. | That has left individual cities, such as Shanghai, to think up ways of coping with their own ageing communities. |
| "If all couples have children according to the policy, it would definitely help relieve pressure in the long term," he added. | "If all couples have children according to the policy, it would definitely help relieve pressure in the long term," he added. |
| Decades of a strictly enforced one-child policy has produced new strains across the population and prompted exceptions in some family categories. Rural parents are also allowed to have a second child, if the first-born is a girl. | Decades of a strictly enforced one-child policy has produced new strains across the population and prompted exceptions in some family categories. Rural parents are also allowed to have a second child, if the first-born is a girl. |
| In Shanghai, 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. | In Shanghai, 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. |
| Emotional and financial counselling will also be provided, officials said. | Emotional and financial counselling will also be provided, officials said. |
| By 2020, the country's most populous city is expected to have more than a third of residents aged 60 or above. | By 2020, the country's most populous city is expected to have more than a third of residents aged 60 or above. |
| Policy relaxed | Policy relaxed |
| According to the US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, by 2050 the country will have just 1.6 working-age adults to support each retired person, compared to 7.7 in 1975. | According to the US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, by 2050 the country will have just 1.6 working-age adults to support each retired person, compared to 7.7 in 1975. |
| The state-controlled newspaper China Daily quoted one salesman who said he was cheered by the new attitude. | The state-controlled newspaper China Daily quoted one salesman who said he was cheered by the new attitude. |
| CHINA'S ONE-CHILD POLICY Written into the constitution in 1978Government says has prevented about 400 million birthsMany rural couples allowed second child if first is a girlParents who are themselves only children can have two childrenEthnic minority couples allowed two or more children Has the one-child policy worked? China's 'perfect child' generation Grey areas in one-child policy | CHINA'S ONE-CHILD POLICY Written into the constitution in 1978Government says has prevented about 400 million birthsMany rural couples allowed second child if first is a girlParents who are themselves only children can have two childrenEthnic minority couples allowed two or more children Has the one-child policy worked? China's 'perfect child' generation Grey areas in one-child policy |
| "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. |
| Others were less enthusiastic. | Others were less enthusiastic. |
| "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. |
| Are you in Shanghai? Are you planning to have a second child? Send us your comments and stories using the form below. | Are you in Shanghai? Are you planning to have a second child? Send us your comments and stories using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |