[Commentary] The "Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Optimizing Fertility Policies to Promote Long-term and Balanced Population Development" (hereinafter referred to as the "Decision") was announced on July 20.
On July 21, at a press conference held by the Information Office of the State Council, Yu Xuejun, deputy director of the National Health Commission, said that optimizing the birth policy this time is not only a simple adjustment of the number of children from two to three children, but also more important. It is a comprehensive deployment of supporting support policies.
[Concurrent] Yu Xuejun, Deputy Director of the National Health Commission
The optimized birth policy this time is not just a simple adjustment of the number of children from two to three children, but more importantly, the comprehensive deployment of supporting policies.
These policies and measures focus on the concerns of the masses, adhere to the problem-oriented approach, and consider marriage, childbirth, parenting, and education as a whole to effectively solve the worries of the masses, release the potential of reproduction, and promote family harmony and happiness.
[Explanation] The "Decision" proposes to cancel restrictive measures such as social maintenance fees, and to clean up and abolish relevant penalties.
Yang Wenzhuang, director of the Population and Family Department of the National Health Commission, said that restrictive measures such as social support payments are out of date and need to be abolished in time.
[Concurrent] Yang Wenzhuang, Director of the Population and Family Department of the National Health Commission
The strategic goals of our country's population development have undergone major changes.
We are now promoting the long-term balanced development of the population, which is different from our goal of controlling excessive population growth in the 1970s and 1980s and stabilizing the low birth rate since the beginning of the new century.
Therefore, restrictive measures such as social support payments are indeed out of date and need to be abolished in time.
[Explanation] Regarding the support measures that everyone is generally concerned about to reduce the burden of raising children, Ou Xiaoli, Director of the Department of Social Development of the National Development and Reform Commission, introduced that the "Decision" clearly proposes supporting measures and the three-child policy as a whole combination.
[Concurrent] Ou Xiaoli, Director of the Department of Social Development, National Development and Reform Commission
The "Decision" of the central government made it clear that supporting measures and the three-child policy should be put forward as a whole, requiring that marriage, childbirth, parenting, and education be considered as a whole, and a package of support measures covering the entire life cycle has been proposed.
For example, in the promotion of prenatal and postnatal care, it is necessary to implement projects related to the capacity building of women and children's health services to expand the supply of maternal and child health services; in terms of expanding childcare services, formulate special plans for the development of childcare services and carry out special actions for inclusive childcare , To promote cities to formulate overall solutions, support qualified employers to provide childcare services for employees, and so on.
[Explanation] Regarding the question of whether the fertility rate of the Chinese population will usher in a significant increase after the implementation of the three-child policy.
Yu Xuejun said that in the short term, China hopes to release its fertility potential and ease the decline in the birth population; in the long run, the key depends on whether the active reproductive support measures can be well connected and truly implemented.
[Concurrent] Yu Xuejun, Deputy Director of the National Health Commission
Population reproduction is not the same as material reproduction. The cycle of population reproduction is long, and there are many influencing factors. The factors for fertility decision-making are complex and involve all aspects.
In the short term, we hope to release the potential of childbirth and smooth the decline in the birth population.
From a long-term perspective, the key depends on whether the active reproductive support measures can be well connected and whether they can really be implemented. This requires the joint efforts and active support of our various departments and all parties.
Dong Zeyu reports from Beijing
Editor in charge: [Li Ji]