Deputy calls for end to family planning policy

Chen Xiangqun, executive vice-governor of Liaoning province and a deputy to the 13th National People's Congress, proposed during the ongoing two sessions that the central government should support Northeast China by ending the national family planning policy.

Ending the policy, starting with this region, would help address local demographic challenges such as population aging, Chen said.

"We sincerely hope for an end to the family planning policy first in the northeast, followed by more support for baby care and preschool education," he said.

Under the current family planning policy, a couple can have two children.

Liaoning is among the regions in the country in which the average age of the population is rising rapidly. In 2018, people over age 60 accounted for 22.65 percent of the total, higher than the national average of 17.9 percent, according to the data of the National Bureau of Statistics.

At the same time, the birthrate on the Chinese mainland reached a record low last year.

There were 14.65 million babies born last year, a decrease of 580,000 from the previous year. The national birthrate stood at 10.48 per 1,000 people, the lowest in seven decades, according to the bureau.

Liaoning, recorded 281,000 newborns, a birthrate of 6.45 per 1,000 people.

To address the demographic challenges, Liaoning has issued a number of preferential policies to encourage childbearing, including a tax cut and support for education and social security.

Chen suggested the government create a basket of polices to promote population growth to facilitate long-term, balanced and sustainable development of the population.