More steps needed to maintain fertility levels

15/11/2024 17:50

        President Xi Jinping is calling for more efforts to maintain China's fertility levels and population size, state news agency Xinhua reported on Friday, as the country grapples with the fallout of an ageing population.
        
        The legal system overseeing population and reproduction matters should be improved to help strengthen demographics, Xinhua cited Xi as saying in an article to be published in the official journal of the Chinese Communist Party on Saturday.
        
        The birth rate in China, which has a population of 1.4 billion, hit a record low last year, and fellow Asian giant India has outpaced it to become the world's most populous nation.
        
        China should establish and improve policies on fertility support to promote long-term balanced population development and needs to strengthen human resources' development to increase labour supply, Xi said.