Demographic tech shared with Africa

Nation offers developing countries ways to manage their populations, plan future

China has been sharing its domestically made technologies to help developing countries track their demographics to improve their economies.

The China Population and Development Research Center of the National Health Commission has led the research and development of software that analyzes the dynamics between population trends and the allocation of social and economic resources.

"A large number of developing countries, including Kenya, Ghana, Turkey, Brazil and India, have used our software programs to make predictions about their populations," said He Dan, the research center's general director. "The data will help their authorities gain a deeper understanding of demographics and achieve sustainable development."

Officials and policymakers from more than 30 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa and South America have learned to use these tools, He said.

In recent years, such cooperation has expanded as a result of the country's engagement in the United Nations Commission on Population and Development.

"We have always voiced our stance on rolling out comprehensive policies rooted in human investment and improving people's living standards," she said.

The deepened framework includes cooperation between developed countries. The Belt and Road Initiative has created conduits for Chinese population researchers to share the country's experience in reaping demographic dividends - the opportunity to expand the economy when there is a growing number of people of working age and a smaller proportion of dependents who are not yet of working age, He said.

However, she said, a favorable demographic structure only presents a window of opportunity. Appropriate social and economic policies are required to translate that opportunity into growth.

"It's crucial to churn out sufficient employment and education opportunities to facilitate positive outcomes for the demographic dividend," she said.

Most African countries are experiencing high birthrates and a swelling proportion of young people, which is piling pressure on insufficient economic growth.

According to He, China's experience in handling such population trends and tapping into human capital is believed to be valuable for them.

"Africans are eager to learn from us in these aspects, and China is more than happy to share viable avenues that will lead to the demographic dividend."

For instance, she said, the implementation of a series of reproductive health and family planning policies, coupled with well-timed economic reform - most notably the reform and opening-up policy launched in the late 1970s - has helped China accumulate expertise in the field.

Each step in adjusting the country's family planning agenda has been devised while taking the trajectory of population change into consideration, He said.

"However, each African country has unique features that require tailored policies, so it's impossible to implant the Chinese pattern in another continent," she said. "But when it comes to universal laws that apply to most countries, including how to seize demographic dividends to boost the coordinated development of society and the economy, China will not hesitate to share its experience."

wangxiaoyu@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily Global 05/07/2019 page4)