Top Communist Party leaders end party plenum in Beijing by creating two new mechanisms to handle national security and economic reform. Unconfirmed reports suggest that China's one-child policy might be relaxed to allow couples a second child if either parent is an only child.

Beijing (AsiaNews) - The Third Plenum of the Communist Party of China since Xi Jinping took over has approved three key changes in the areas of the one-child policy, national security and economic reform.

The meeting, which began last Saturday, ended this afternoon in Beijing (local time), China's official news agency Xinhua reported. Two new key mechanisms would be set up to co-ordinate national security and economic reforms, the press release said.

The final statement adopted by about 400 senior party members of the ruling Chinese Communist Party calls for the creation of a state security committee made up of high-ranking party officials that would operate as a national security agency to co-ordinate policy-making in foreign relations and military.

The same statement also called for a "deep reform leadership group" to restructure the economy to handle its weaknesses.

Communist leaders are also expected to approve significant changes to the country's one-child rule, Caixin Magazine reported citing party sources. Under the new rules, couples would be allowed to have a second child if either parent is an only child.

Population issues are very sensitive in China, where an aging population and a falling birth due brutal state policies are leading to the collapse of the pension, health and welfare systems.

 

• china
• plenum
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• national
• security
• economic
• reform
• one-child
• policy