China has always been a popular destination for American couples seeking to adopt a baby abroad. Since 2000, US citizens have adopted more babies from China than any other country.

Official figures show that nearly 90 per cent of the adopted Chinese children are female, 44 per cent under 1 year of age and 52 per cent between 1 and 4 years old.

"Many couples want to adopt a child as young as possible, because children can achieve their full potential more easily," she added.

However, many adoptions from China and other countries are of special-needs children, children with medical problems or older children.

The US official praised her Chinese counterparts who have lots of experience and set up good programs in terms of caring for the children and identifying who is an appropriate candidate for an adoption.

Bond is most impressed about how serious the Chinese government is about protecting its children. "They make sure that whenever an adoption is taking place, it is appropriate and is the best thing for that child. Both birth families and adopting families are carefully informed and well prepared."

Soon after the case of an American father sexually abusing his Chinese adoptive daughter in December, officials from China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) announced a series of measures to protect the rights and interests of Chinese adoptive children, including a possible change in post-placement reporting policies.

"Although this is a very rare case, it had negative effects on inter-country adoptions in China and is against the healthy development of inter-country adoption," the CCAA said in a statement.

It also suggested that government departments and adoption agencies do follow-up reports on all children adopted from China.

"Whatever China elects to do in that respect, we would fully endorse and encourage families to completely comply," Bond said.

The US official noted that one of the many benefits of inter-country adoptions is that "a link is forged between the two countries as each child has a huge impact on Americans' appreciation for China".