Unbalanced gender ratios at birth will remain in China over the long term even though the country has seen some progress, said an official with the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

A baby boy was born. (File photo/Chinanews.com)

Wang Peian, its deputy head, said the government faces tough tasks in balancing gender ratios at birth and in the overall population, an issue posing a major risk to development and societal stability.

To help girls realize their dreams, the government has identified specific social problems that can influence their lives and formulated policies to solve those, according to Wang.

"The healthy maturation experience of girls is closely related with family happiness, society's progress and the country's development," he said. "Protecting women's rights and interests and promoting a gender balance are basic requirements of family planning."

He noted that China has made progress in maternity and child care since the 12th Five-Year Period (2011-15). Last year, mortality rates among pregnant women, infants and children under 5 years old all met goals set by the UN earlier than scheduled.

Last year, the country's birth gender ratio continued a seven-consecutive-year decline in the number of males, down to 113.5 for every 100 girls. The living conditions of girls improved, said Wang, while a volunteer activity by the commission in 2013 to help girls realize their dreams now covers more than 20 provinces and cities.

"To balance gender is a long-term task that needs many years of work," he said, adding that the government will continue to improve living conditions for girls.

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