Reiteration of the Importance of Birth Planning in China

This document is the reproduction of a speech delivered at the March 1986 conference to commend collectives and individuals who have done outstanding work in family planning (FP) in China covened at a juncture when Chinas continued impressive reduction in population growth is threatened by a projected marriage boom beginning in the late 1980s. The speech affirms that FP is part of national policy and population planning an integral part of overall economic and environmental planning. Decrying coersive FP policies the speech commends the country on successfully overcoming the cyclical impact of the 1st birth peak in the 1950s. The pace must not be relaxed even now that there have been considerable advances in economic development; on the contrary continued technological advance will mean increased productivity of the labor force and a consequent threat of unemployment. Since China is a vast territory regions should be given some autonomy in determining local FP policy and methods. Policy should be different in rural and urban and in densely populated areas and sparsely populated areas where resources are abundant. Workstyles should be civilized. Scientific research work on fertility regulation should be strengthened. FP workers should be better trained in population theory to equip them to counter cultural tendencies towards large families and poor child care. Another problem to be addressed is that of genetic disorders caused in many cases by marriages between close relatives. There is concern about the overindulgence of single children. The remedy is to be found in education: parents should study a little pedagogy psychology and nutrition. FP should continue to be a policy priority of the entire country from the state ministries to party committees to citizen and youth groups

China · Geography · Political science · Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences · Law