China formally eases one-child policy
- 11 years ago
China's one-child policy may soon become history.
On Saturday, the country formally approved easing this decades-old policy.
Now, a couple can have up to two children, as long as one of the parents is an only child.
That might mean a brother, or sister for babies otherwise playing by themselves.
Before, a couple could only have a second child if they were both only children.
For father Chen Jun, the change is more than just a privilege.
(SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) 36-YEAR-OLD FATHER CHEN JUN SAYING:
''I think it is our obligation as parents to make sure he has a sibling. An only child is too lonely. I am not an only child myself, I have a younger sister. An only child will never feel what I feel, it feels great to have a sister."
The new policy has been in the works for some time now. Five years ago, officials worried that the rigid one-child system would undermine economic growth.
And that's not the only policy change in China.
Pa
On Saturday, the country formally approved easing this decades-old policy.
Now, a couple can have up to two children, as long as one of the parents is an only child.
That might mean a brother, or sister for babies otherwise playing by themselves.
Before, a couple could only have a second child if they were both only children.
For father Chen Jun, the change is more than just a privilege.
(SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) 36-YEAR-OLD FATHER CHEN JUN SAYING:
''I think it is our obligation as parents to make sure he has a sibling. An only child is too lonely. I am not an only child myself, I have a younger sister. An only child will never feel what I feel, it feels great to have a sister."
The new policy has been in the works for some time now. Five years ago, officials worried that the rigid one-child system would undermine economic growth.
And that's not the only policy change in China.
Pa