‘NEW-ERA’ MARRIAGE PROJECTS LAUNCHE BY CHINA TO BOOST FALLING BIRTH RATES

Mon 15 May 2023:

The latest measure taken by Chinese authorities to increase the declining birth rate in the nation is the creation of pilot projects in more than 20 locations to promote a “new-era” marriage and childbearing culture.

The programs will be launched by China’s Family Planning Association, a national entity that administers the government’s population and fertility regulations, according to the state-backed Global Times on Monday.

The programs’ focus is on encouraging marriage, having children at acceptable ages, encouraging parents to share child-rearing responsibilities, and reducing excessive “bride prices” and other outdated regulations, according to the Times.

Cities included in the pilot include the manufacturing hub Guangzhou and Handan in China’s Hebei province. The association already launched projects in 20 cities including Beijing last year, the Times said.

“The society needs to guide young people more on the concept of marriage and childbirth,” demographer He Yafu told the Times

The projects come amid a flurry of measures Chinese provinces are rolling out to spur people to have children, including tax incentives, housing subsidies, and free or subsidised education for having a third child.

In February this year, the government unveiled its key policy document, vowing to address exorbitant “bride prices”, and extravagant wedding ceremonies as part of efforts to strengthen the construction of public cultural-ethical standards in China’s rural areas.

From 1980 until 2015, China had a strict one-child policy, which was the cause of many of its demographic problems and helped India overtake China as the world’s most populated country. Since then, the cap has been increased to three kids.

Political advisers to the government said in March that single and unmarried women should have access to egg freezing and IVF treatment, among other services, to increase the nation’s reproductive rate. They were worried about China’s rapid aging and first population decline in 60 years.

Many women have been put off having more children, or having any at all, due to the cost of child care and having to give up their careers, with gender discrimination remaining a major barrier.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

______________________________________________________________

FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:

TWITTER (CLICK HERE)
https://twitter.com/IpIndependent