Li Bin, minister of the China National Health and Family Planning Commission, addressed the development of China’s family planning policy.

Li called upon the international community to put the population problem on the UN Post-2015 Development Agenda and to give more support for developing countries at the UN headquarters in New York on Sept 22.

While speaking at the 69th UN General Assembly special meeting on the follow-up to the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, Li underlined that the Chinese government considers the population problem a development issue.

“The problem comes from China’s population size, demographic composition and distribution, so we believe that the family planning policy helps better control excessive population growth, and that has facilitated overall socioeconomic development to improve people's livelihood.”

The minister then added that the government will adjust the policy by taking the interrelations between population and development into consideration, and by addressing the issue of the aging population.

Li went on to call for further implementation to the Programe of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development beyond 2014.

“The action should be implemented effectively by increasing reproductive health and family planning input to ensure that people get more access to reproductive health and family planning services.”

Li also suggested that the population problem be put on the UN Post-2015 Development Agenda to support more developing countries.

The Chinese minister finally voiced China’s support for the South-South cooperation as the government has continuously helped countries in West Africa control and treat Ebola.

Ban Ki-moon, UN secretary-general, and Babatunde Osotimehin, UNFPA executive director, spoke at the session. Also present at the session were presidents and premiers of 26 countries, and ministerial delegates from over 100 countries.

The 2014 special session has reviewed a framework report of follow-up actions as a commemoration of the International Conference on Population and Development in 1994, with the election of Sam Kahamba Kutesa of Uganda as president of its 69th session.

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