Chongqing takes baby steps toward assisted reproduction

Southwest China's Chongqing municipality is planning to allow more assisted reproductive agencies to meet anticipated rise in demand for their services, as China has eased its family planning policy.

The city will grant licenses to three more assisted reproductive agencies, which will swell their overall number to nine by 2020, according to the Chongqing Commission of Health and Family Planning.

Experts said they believe the municipality's decision could be a sign China will gradually see a rise in qualified assisted reproductive agencies, whose approvals were postponed by the government since 2013 to contain the disorderly conduct in the market.