CCTV9英语新闻：计划进行新的生育政策（在线收听）

For more, let’s bring in our reporter Zhang Nini. Nini, we know that China’s reform of its family planning policy has drawn wide attention. What’s latest from the press conference?

A1: Well, Reform is a key word for healthcare system last year, and the biggest highlight is a major shift from the decades-long family planning policy. China is to allow couples to have two children if either parent is an only child. The easing of the policy is expected to benefit 15 million to 20 million couples. Mao Qunan said there’s no uniform timetable for implementation nationwide. It should rather be based on the local population and social economic development. Each province will also need to report its adjustment to the Commission and get approval by the local People’s Congress for the policy to take effect. Preparation is now well underway. The health authorities are listing the policy change as a major priority in 2014. Maternal and child health facilities will also be improved to cope with what could be a baby boom.

Q2: Another issue is China banning officials from smoking in public, how will that work?

A2: China’s health authorities say they are actively looking at ways to reduce people’s smoking, and a ban on lighting up in public. The commission has set two service hotlines for this purpose. Yao Hongwen, spokesman from the National Health and Family Planning Commission says China is the world ’s largest producer and consumer of tobacco , and is also badly affected as a result. There are more than 300 million smokers in the country. More than 700 million non- smokers suffer from second-hand smoke . Smoking is one of the greatest health threats China faces. About one million people die of tobacco consumption every year, and 100, 000 people die from exposure to second-hand smoke. A circular was issued by the end of last year banning officials from lighting up in public. In addition to this, Yao said the commission will actively promote services to ban smoking. China has no nationwide law banning smoking in indoor public places, but the government has tried to ban the practice in the past. In 2011, the Health Ministry issued guidelines banning smoking in venues including hotels and restaurants, these guidelines will be written into legislation in the future.