Li Signals Change in Official Thinking on Population Issues

Premier Li Keqiang pledged more support for couples choosing to have a second infant when he delivered his report on the government's work over the past year to the annual meeting of the legislature. His comments come after the country eased its one-child policy in October to ease the strain of an aging population on the emerging economy.

It is also noteworthy that the phrase "family planning" was not included in the report delivered on March 5. This is the first time a premier has omitted it since family-planning rules came into effect three decades ago.