"The population issue is the linchpin of sustainable development strategy,'' said Professor Tian Xueyuan of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the nation's top think tank.

In an exclusive interview, Tian urged the government to incorporate the population issue into its sustainable development strategy and stick to its family planning policy.

China has always been the most populous developing nation in the world and what it does has a great impact on solving the world's population issue, Tian said.

The fifth national census indicated that the Chinese mainland had a population of 1.266 billion in 2000.

The country has effectively slowed down the excessive growth of its population and the total fertility rate has been kept below the replacement level, realizing the historic transition from high to low mortality, fertility and growth rate, said Peng Peiyun, vice-chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC).

"The day that the world's population reaches five billion has been postponed for two years and the day marking six billion has been postponed for three years thanks to China's efforts in family planning,'' Tian said.

However, said Tian, China's population still has a strong momentum of growth and the government should maintain its family planning policy.

It is estimated that the nation could realize zero growth rate once when its population reaches around 1.6 billion, which is expected between 2040 and 2050.

"Control of the population growth and improvement of population quality remain the primary task and the adjustment of population structure should be conducted at the same time,'' Tian said.

"The momentum of population rebound will be used up in the middle of this century when the per capita gross domestic product reaches US$3,000 to US$4,000,'' he added.

Li Honggui, a member of the NPC Education, Science, Cultural and Public Health Committee, agreed with Tian that population plays a fundamental role in achieving sustainable development.

"Excessive numbers of population, rapid growth of population and lower quality of human resources are the constraints on sustainable development,'' Li said.

The Action of the Program of the International Conference on Population and Development, which was held in 1994, states that "efforts to slow down population growth, reduce poverty, achieve economic progress, improve environmental protection and reduce unsustainable consumption and production patterns are mutually reinforcing.''

(China Daily October 22, 2002)