New policy expected to bring spike in births, and then fewer

A "pileup" of births is expected in the first three to five years after the universal two-child policy takes effect, resulting in two to five million more newborns each year over the time frame, according to experts' estimations.

In the meantime, the fertility rate - the average number of births per woman - would reach 2 during the period, compared to the current less than 1.5, according to Wang Jinying, a professor of economics with Hebei University.

He made the remarks at a symposium convened by the National Health and Family Planning Commission on Wednesday.