A two-child policy for all

Editor's Note: So far 29 municipalities, provinces and autonomous regions have introduced the policy of allowing couples, of whom one is an only child, to have two children, since the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress endorsed the policy in late 2013. Under the new policy about 11 million couples are eligible to have another child. But given China's increasing grey population, it is facing another dilemma: whether to further ease the family planning policy to fully implement a two-child policy.

Policy relaxing needs to be gradual

China has succeeded in curbing its excessively rapid population growth and reducing its fertility rate through its rigid family planning policy over the past three decades. The population growth rate has dropped from 2.5 percent in 1960 to 0.5 percent nowadays, and the yearly average number of newborns has dropped from 27 million in the 1960s to 16 million now. Based on the current growth trend, China's population will step into a "zero growth" era in the 2030s. The changing population situation has drawn wide public attention to the adjustment of the family planning policy.

Buildings to withstand quakes

WHEN A CEREMONY WAS HELD ON SUNDAY TO remember those who died in the Ludian earthquake that jolted the southwestern county in Yunnan province on Aug 3, what strikes us the most is the question: how could a quake with a magnitude of only 6.5 on the Richter Scale result in 617 deaths? With another 112 people still missing.

Lessons from quake need learning

On the seventh day after the earthquake, which according to Chinese tradition marks the last day of mourning for those who have passed away, people from the whole nation lowered their heads for the victims of the disaster. Disasters bring losses, but they also make Chinese society grow more mature.

Lack of work-safety culture kills

Major workplace accidents are much like earthquakes or air crashes. For a couple of days they instill in us a sense of fear and good fortune - "There but for the grace of God go I" is a very familiar refrain for those of us from the English speaking regions of the world. And then just as quickly the memory disappears as the news moves on ... until of course the next time.

Asia-Pacific must drive all-in growth

Asia-Pacific countries continue to drive the global economy. The region has demonstrated great resilience during the economic and financial crisis, contributing about 70 percent of world growth from 2008-2011.

Letters

People will triumph over quake

From the Chinese press

Youths lack survival skills

Whole lotta Love headed to Cleveland

Cavaliers reach agreement with T-Wolves on package deal that includes Wiggins

Stern hails growth of 'healthy' NBA

Former NBA commissioner David Stern prefers to look at the sale of the Los Angeles Clippers for a record $2 billion and not the decades of Donald Sterling's "interesting" ownership that came before it.

'Drained' Durant won't play for USA

Kevin Durant withdrew Thursday from the US national team, the biggest loss yet for a weakening American squad that will go to Spain without the leading scorer on its past two gold medal winners.

Score Board