2015年CRI ＂Two-child＂ Policy to be Released Next Year

 

Reporter:

A universal two-child policy is expected to be passed by the top legislature by the end of the week as it concludes its latest bimonthly session on Sunday. The new rules would come into effect on January 1.

Zhai Zhenwu, Head of the China Population Association, says the new policy is expected to provide part of the solution to the challenge of an aging population in China, and to become a new driver for the economy in the long run.

"It will not reverse the trend of an aging population, but will slow the process. It will also not turn the shrinking work force trend around, but will win time for China's economic restructure, which is beneficial to social and economic development."

A recent report by the World Bank says China has the fastest aging population among countries around East Asia and the Pacific.

People aged¹ over 65 years old account for more than 10 percent of China's total population, compared with the standard of 7 percent, used globally to identify an aging society.

China eased its "one-child" policy back in 2013, allowing couples to have a second child if either parent is an only child.

However, statistics shows many families covered by the policy are choosing not to take the opportunity, showing concerns over economic pressure and the energy to take care of the children, as well as the mother's career development.

Professor Peng Xizhe, from the School of Social Development and Public Policy, Fudan University, believes the government needs to provide more support.

"From an economic perspective, income tax reform should be based on the unit of a family. If one family has two children, or needs to take care of elderly family members, this family's income tax should be reduced more. On public services, the government needs to increase its spending on facilities like child care services to encourage people to have a second child."

To deal with the foreseeable challenges, Li Bin², head of National Health and Family Planning Commission, says the decision to eliminate the one-child policy will also bring with it other considerations for parents.

"Couples who are allowed to have two children will be entitled to longer maternity³ leave if they have the second baby."

Authorities say they are also coordinating⁴ different departments to help ease social concerns.

At the same time, embryo⁵ harvesting and surrogacy will remain illegal.

Those caught violating the rules could face fines or even jail time.

For CRI, this is Luo Bin.

1 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

2 bin   

n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件

参考例句：

• He emptied several bags of rice into a bin.他把几袋米倒进大箱里。
• He threw the empty bottles in the bin.他把空瓶子扔进垃圾箱。

3 maternity   

n.母性，母道，妇产科病房；adj.孕妇的，母性的

参考例句：

• Women workers are entitled to maternity leave with full pay.女工产假期间工资照发。
• Trainee nurses have to work for some weeks in maternity.受训的护士必须在产科病房工作数周。

4 coordinating   

v.使协调，使调和( coordinate的现在分词 )；协调；协同；成为同等

参考例句：

• He abolished the Operations Coordinating Board and the Planning Board. 他废除了行动协调委员会和计划委员会。 来自辞典例句
• He's coordinating the wedding, and then we're not going to invite him? 他是来协调婚礼的，难道我们不去请他？ 来自电影对白

5 embryo   

n.胚胎，萌芽的事物

参考例句：

• They are engaging in an embryo research.他们正在进行一项胚胎研究。
• The project was barely in embryo.该计划只是个雏形。