The Financial Times:
I notice that China's birth rate has dropped to 10.48‰ in 2019, its lowest level in history. My question is, what effect will this have on China's economy? China's birth rate has continued to fall since the country implemented a comprehensive "two-child policy" in 2016. What measures will the Chinese government take to address the situation?
Ning Jizhe:
There were 14.65 million births in China in 2019 and the country has a high birth rate of above 10‰. You also mentioned that this figure was 0.58 million less than that of 2018. Having said all this, we should not lose sight of the relatively large number of newborns last year. If you pay attention to the number of births reported these years, you will find that the figure for 2018 was 2 million less than that of 2017, while the figure for 2017 was 0.63 million less than that of 2016. Compared to previous years, 2019 saw a slower decrease in the birth population due to the implementation of the comprehensive "two-child policy" you have just mentioned. The second child (or more) in families accounted for 59.5% of total newborn babies in the past year, a relatively high level which shows the success achieved by China's birth policy.
Of course, we still face changes in our demographic structure, especially the ageing of our population. We have published the proportion of our ageing population, that is, the percentage of people aged 60 or above and the percentage of people aged 65 or above. Here I would like to call to your attention that 2019 saw a relatively smaller increase in the number of people aged 60 or above than in most previous years. Of course, these statistics should be analyzed under their respective historical circumstances.
Demographic statistics are collected to truly and accurately reflect the changes in the size and structure of China's total population, as well as its geographical distribution, transfer and mobility. These figures are essential for analysts to study the trend of population development and providing statistical support for population policy-making.
The State Council has planned to conduct the seventh national population census. Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng hosted a meeting of the leading group for the seventh national population census in Beijing on Jan. 6, 2020. The census will begin at 12am on Nov. 1, 2020. The census, carried out every 10 years, will survey the total amount, structure and distribution of the population using modern scientific statistical methods, providing a scientific basis for us to formulate the 14th Five-Year Plan and move forward to the next step of reaching our three strategic goals for achieving the socialist modernization in China. Thank you.
Hu Kaihong:
Today's press conference concludes here. Thank you Mr. Ning, and thank you all.
