By tf-lawyer.com During a press conference on September 12 in Beijing, Yu Xuejun, the Deputy Director of the National Health Commission (NHC) of China, addressed the pressing challenges related to the country’s demographic changes. He noted the significant shifts in birth rates, an increasing aging population, and regional disparities in demographics.
Yu stated, “These transformations in our population are a natural outcome of socio-economic development reaching a certain point, and they align with global trends in demographic changes and modernization.”
When asked about the NHC’s strategy for promoting high-quality population development amid these changes, Yu highlighted several key priorities:
First, he stressed the need for a health-first development strategy, aiming to create a population service system that caters to all demographics across different life stages. This includes better management of chronic diseases, increasing life expectancy, and steadily enhancing the overall health quality of the population.
Yu also emphasized the NHC’s commitment to collaborate with other departments to fast-track the implementation of supportive fertility policies. This will encompass improving accessibility to childcare services, which would help ease the demands of childbearing, raising children, and education for families. The objective is to maintain a moderate fertility rate and promote sustainable long-term demographic growth.
Finally, Yu pointed out the importance of encouraging appropriate ages for marriage and childbearing, promoting shared responsibilities in parenting among couples, and fostering respect for the social value of childbirth. He urged young people to cultivate positive perceptions of marriage, parenthood, and family life in order to create a more pro-natalist culture.
Looking ahead, the NHC intends to align its initiatives for high-quality population development with the overarching goal of improving citizens’ quality of life. Yu reassured the public that the NHC is committed to tackling pressing issues faced by families regarding childbearing and education, ultimately aiming for sustainable population growth that meets societal needs.
