Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Anhui pioneer in two-child policy

Three provinces on the Chinese mainland have so far implemented changes in the family planning policy that allow couples in which one spouse is an only child to have two children, a senior official said on Monday.

Yao Hongwen, a spokesman for the National Health and Family Planning Commission, said during a news conference that the policy change has been implemented in Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Anhui provinces, with another nine provincial areas expected to complete the approval process soon.

According to a decision by the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China Central Committee in November, couples with one spouse who is an only child will be permitted to have two children.

However, under China's population and family planning law, the decision to change the policy in each provincial region must be made by the Standing Committee of the People's Congress in that region, which means couples interested in having a second child need to wait until provincial lawmakers authorize the change.

Yao said during the conference that pushing through the two-child policy will be a focus for the authority during this year.