In recent years, the family planning policy has gainedmore recognition from the international community, among which China has established its image as a responsible country.

But since the 21st century, there have also been major changes to China’s population, which has seen a low fertility rate primarily because of the popularity of family planning.

 In 2013, the Party decided on the Third Plenary Session of the Eighteenth CPC Central Committee that couples in which one personis an only child can give birth to two children, and on Dec 28 of that year, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress passed a resolution to allow this.

The National Health and Family Planning Commission then had all provinces submit their analysis of how the loosened family planning policy would affect their local populations as well as their specific plans to implement it.

The commission also asked provinces to make sure hospitals have enough beds for the possible baby boom, enhance care for high-risk pregnant women and newborns, and strengthen their prevention of birth defects.

Now, all provinces in the Chinese mainland except Tibet and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region have started to implement the loosened policy, and by May 31, 271,600 couples had applied to have a second, 241,300 of which were approved.

Provincial authorities informed the public about the new policy via TV, newspapers and websites. Some provinces have even introduced measures to shorten the time for people waiting for approval to have to another child.Hospitals in some provinces have also opened clinics for couples that have trouble conceiving.

The National Health and Family Planning Commission will continue to improve and implement family planning as an essential component of national policy. The commission will also develop a system of evaluation for the effects major socioeconomic policies have on the country’s population, as well asset up an alarm system for when the population is likely to overburden national resources.