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China details supporting measures for 3-child policy
Xie Hongzhou
01:25

China released the latest supporting measures for its three-child policy on Tuesday, which aims to curb sluggish population growth.

Several departments involved in the implementation of the new policy addressed a press conference at the State Council Information Office on Wednesday.

The latest measures include removing the fine against those who have more babies than allowed, and increasing the number of affordable child-rearing services, especially public kindergartens, among other measures to lower the cost of raising a child, an official from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said at the meeting.

"Efforts will also be made to explore improving maternity leave and maternity insurance system, tax deductions, housing support, and protecting the legal rights and interests of employed women," said Ou Xiaoli, director of the NDRC's department of social development.

"A series of policies and measures will be in place to help families leave their worries behind," he added.

However, the fertility level will remain low this year and possibly in the years ahead, according to Chinese health officials who have monitored the number of births in the first half of 2021.

"For a period of time, we'll continue to face the pressure of slow population growth with a growing aging problem. Population reproduction is different from material reproduction. It has a long cycle and many influencing factors," said Yue Xuejun, vice minister of the National Health Commission.

"From a long-term perspective, it depends on whether the supportive measures can be truly and effectively implemented," he added.

But Yu still believes the measures will slow China's declining birth rate while realizing the country's birth potential.

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