"Two-child" Policy to be Released Next Year

From CRIENGLISH.com

A universal['jʊnə'vɝsl][普遍的；通用的] two-child policy[二胎政策] is expected to be passed by the top legislature[最高立法机关] by the end of the week as it concludes its latest bimonthly session[两月一次的会议] on Sunday. The new rules would come into effect[开始生效；开始实施] on January 1.

Zhai Zhenwu, Head of the China Population Association[中国人口学会], says the new policy is expected to provide part of the solution to the challenge of an aging population[人口老龄化;老年人口;老化人口] in China, and to become a new driver for the economy[经济(发展)的新驱动] in the long run[从长远来看].

"It will not reverse the trend of an aging population[扭转不了老龄化趋势], but will slow the process. It will also not turn the shrinking[ʃrɪŋk][缩小] work force[劳动力] trend around, but will win time for China's economic restructure[经济结构重整，经济转型], which is beneficial to[有益于] social and economic development."

A recent report by the World Bank[世界银行] says China has the fastest aging population[老龄化速度最快] among countries around East Asia and the Pacific[东亚和太平洋地区].

People aged over 65 years old account for[（比例）占] 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[iz][放松;放宽] its "one-child[独生子女]" 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[符合政策的] are choosing not to take the opportunity, showing concerns over economic pressure[经济压力] and the energy to take care of the children, as well as the mother's career development[职业发展].

Professor Peng Xizhe, from the School of Social Development and Public Policy[社会发展与公共政策学院], Fudan University, believes the government needs to provide more support[提供更多支持].

"From an economic perspective[从 经济角度], income tax reform[所得税改革] should be based on the unit of a family. If one family has two children, or needs to take care of elderly family members[下有小(两个小孩)或上有老(需要照顾)], this family's income tax should be reduced more. On public services[公共服务；公共设施], 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[fɔr'siəbl][可预知的；能预测的] challenges, Li Bin, head of National Health and Family Planning Commission[国家卫生和计划生育委员会], says the decision to eliminate[ɪ'lɪmɪnet][消除；排除] the one-child policy will also bring with it other considerations[kənsɪdə'reʃən][考虑；注意事项] for parents.

"Couples who are allowed to have two children will be entitled to[有权；有…的资格] longer maternity leave[产假] if they have the second baby."

Authorities say they are also coordinating[ko'ɔrdɪnet][协调] different departments to help ease social concerns[缓解/缓和社会问题].

At the same time, embryo['embrɪəʊ][胚胎] harvesting and surrogacy['sɝəgəsi][替身代孕；代孕行为] will remain illegal.

Those caught violating the rules[违规] could face fines or even jail time[面临罚款或监禁].

For CRI, this is Luo Bin.