Family planning as part of a national basic policy
Family planning is part of a national basic policy in China. It consists of specific measures that guide population planning. This policy was introduced in order to encourage citizens to postpone marriage and childbearing and reduce the number of children per couple as part of the strategy to control population growth and ensure that population growth would not outpace economic and social development.
This policy has been implemented since the early 1970s. It was reaffirmed as part of a national policy in China at the 12th CPC National Congress in September 1982 and incorporated into China's constitution in December 1982. China's population and family planning law was adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress at its 25th session in December 2001. Family planning has allowed China to bring about an early historic shift in fertility patterns, effectively eased the pressure of population growth on resources and the environment, and greatly promoted economic development and social progress. The proper implementation of this basic policy has proven essential for developing socialism with Chinese characteristics and building a prosperous country. It has also contributed significantly to global efforts to manage population and development issues.
The dawn of the 21st century was witnessing a change in the demographic structure, with a shrinking working-age population and an increasing number of elderly people. Against this backdrop, the Party Central Committee made a decision on further reform in November 2013 to allow couples who were themselves only children to have a second child. An amendment to the population and family planning law was adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress in December 2015, and the across-the-board implementation of the two-child policy formally began on January 1, 2016.
Population is a strategic issue that requires long-term, holistic thinking. Family planning will remain part of a national policy in China for the foreseeable future. Gradual adjustment will help improve the policy and ensure long-term balanced population growth.
计划生育基本国策
计划生育政策是中国的一项基本国策，是政府在人口领域内对人口婚育行为进行客观指导的具体措施。这一政策的初衷是提倡公民晚婚晚育、少生优生，通过有计划地控制人口，使人口增长同经济和社会发展计划相适应。
中国自20世纪70初开始推行计划生育政策。1982年9月党的十二大将计划生育确定为中国的基本国策，同年12月写入《中华人民共和国宪法》。2001年12月全国人大常委会第二十五次会议通过《中华人民共和国人口与计划生育法》。实行计划生育以来，中国提前实现了人口再生产类型的历史性转变，有效缓解了人口对资源和环境的压力，有力促进了经济发展和社会进步。实践证明，中国较好地实行计划生育的基本国策，对建设中国特色社会主义、实现国家富强和民族振兴产生了巨大影响，为促进世界人口与发展发挥了重大作用。
进入21世纪后，随着人口结构的转变，中国劳动年龄人口开始下降，老年人口保持上升态势。面对这一形势，2013年11月，《中共中央关于全面深化改革若干重大问题的决定》提出，启动实施一方是独生子女的夫妇可生育两个孩子的政策。2015年12月，全国人大常委会表决通过人口与计划生育法修正案，“全面二孩”政策于2016年1月1日起正式实施。
人口问题始终是中国面临的全局性、长期性、战略性问题。在未来相当长时期内，中国将继续坚持计划生育基本国策、逐步调整完善生育政策、实现人口长期均衡发展。