UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, notes the important announcement by the Government of China that couples across the country may have two children, thereby moving away from the so-called “one-child policy” that was introduced more than 30 years ago.

UNFPA also notes that in addition to the change in the fertility policy, the Government of China proposes to strengthen and improve public services including reproductive health, maternal and child health care as well as nursery services.

These are steps which UNFPA hopes will lead to the fulfillment of the basic right of all couples and individuals in China to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of their children - a principle agreed on by all countries in the Programme of Action adopted at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo in 1994.

We, at UNFPA, are committed to working with the Government of China to advance and strengthen the sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights of all Chinese people, especially those of women and young people.