China has scrapped its one-child policy, allowing couples to have two children for the first time in more than three decades.
In China, couples can now have more one child
China has ended its one-child policy and will allow all couples to have two children, marking a dramatic change in policy of the country's ruling Communist Party after more than three decades.
The announcement was made at the close of a Communist party meeting focused on financial reforms and maintaining growth at a time of heightened concerns over the country’s economy.
This development is coming three months after one Chinese newspaper predicted the policy would be phased out by the end of this year. At the time those reports were denied by the Chinese government.
China will “fully implement a policy of allowing each couple to have two children as an active response to an ageing population”, a statement published by Xinhua news agency on Thursday said. There were no immediate details on the new policy or a timeframe for its implementation.
It will be recalled that for months there has been speculation that Beijing was preparing to abandon the divisive family planning rule, which was introduced by Communist party leaders in 1980 because of fears of a population boom.