The China Daily cited Zhang Weiqing - the former head of the National Population and Family Planning Commission - on Wednesday in reporting that China is considering changes to its one-child policy to deal with the challenge of an ageing population. Under current rules, couples are permitted a second child only if both parents do not have siblings. Proposed changes would allow couples to have a second child, even if one of the parents is not an only child. The relaxed policy might be implemented first in economically productive regions that are dealing with greater demographic challenges, especially an aging population and a large influx of migrant workers. Zhang expects that China will not have to face a rapidly growing population.

The poster of China's one-child policy (Photo: laogai.org)

The one-child policy was officially adopted in China in 1979 after the country became the world’s most populous nation.