China's 2-child policy seen contributing 0.5% point to growth rate

Beijing

CHINA'S adoption of a two-child policy is expected to boost the country's economic growth rate by about 0.5 of a percentage point, stemming from a rise in the size of its workforce, a senior Chinese official said on Tuesday.

Wang Pei'an, vice minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, did not specify a time period for that growth target. Last week, President Xi Jinping said it is possible for the country to have annual economic growth of around 7 per cent over the next five years. "In the long-term, the positive effect on economic growth will be significant," Mr Wang told a news briefing.