Birthrate's continued fall triggers search for ways to grow families

Declining birthrates in China were a top concern for some national legislators and political advisers attending the annual two sessions, which concluded last week, and they called for various measures to encourage couples to have children.

There is no question that a sustained low birthrate will have a negative impact on Chinese society, including a shortage of labor and increased average age, and hurt economic development, Yao Jinbo, a deputy to the National People's Congress, China's top legislative body, said during its session in Beijing.

Various measures should be taken to encourage the implementation of the universal second-child policy that allows all parents to have two children - including further tax cuts for couples who have had a second child - to reduce financial burdens and increase the number of preschool education facilities such as kindergartens, said Yao, who is also CEO of 58.com, a major online marketplace.