By 2005, China is to have its population within 1.33 billion
(excluding the population of the Hong Kong and Macao Special
Administrative Regions and Taiwan Province), according to a
white paper released by the Information Office of State Council
yesterday.
The annual average
natural growth of population will be controlled within 9??.
The maternal mortality rate is to be reduced to 42 per 100,000
with infant mortality dropping to 31??.
China will consolidate and improve its achievements made in
the nine-year compulsory education. Priorities will be given
to popularizing the nine-year compulsory education in poverty-stricken
areas and areas where ethnic minorities live in compact communities.
Social needs for senior middle school education in urban and
some rural regions would be met, with junior middle school
enrollment rate reaching over 90% and higher education enrollment
rate further increased. Social security system is to be basically
established in urban and some rural areas.
By 2010, China's Population and Development in the 21st Century
goes on, the country is to have its population within 1.4
billion and the Chinese people will lead a much better life
with an obvious improvement of its population quality.
The period of time for the people to receive education will
be among the longest in developing countries. The people will
have access to basic medical health care and reproductive
health services. Informed choice of contraceptive measures
is to be practiced widely and the sex ratio at birth is expected
to gradually become normal. China will redouble its efforts
to solve the problem of aging of population. A nationwide
social security system will basically take shape by then.
By the mid-21st century, the total population would reach
its peak number of 1.6 billion to be followed by a gradual
decrease, say the white paper. The population quality and
health level will have an overall improvement, with senior
middle school education and higher education popularized nationwide.
An efficient and comprehensive social security system will
be in place. There will be a more rational population distribution
and employment structure. The urbanization would be greatly
enhanced. With a higher level of its social culture, China
will have realized its modernization and achieved a coordinated
development of population, economy, resources and environment.
To solve the population and development issue, according to
the white paper, following principles will be observed:
-- Population and development are tackled in a unified way.
Various policies and measures will be formulated and implemented
to make the population growth in keeping with socio-economic
development, resource utilization and environmental protection.
-- The population issue is to be solved in a comprehensive
way. The management system for the population and family planning
program will be further improved in line with the socialist
market economy, with legal, educational, economic and administrative
measures combined in tackling the population problem.
--The government guidance is to be combined with the people's
wishes. When adopting policies, the government needs to give
due consideration to both the national and individual interests,
the long-term and short-term interests, and the local interests
as well as the interests of the whole. Administrative measures
should be integrated with mass work so as to promote the voluntary
participation of the masses.
--The nationwide promotion is based upon specific guidance
for different localities. Rural and under-developed areas
are given priorities in economic development, while the exemplary
role of cities and developed regions is given full play in
further boosting the development of different regions.
--It is essential to promote the human-centered development
in a comprehensive way. Assistance especially quality service
should be offered to the people in their endeavors to have
happy and more civilized families.
(CIIC 12/20/2000)
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