The long-term balanced development of the population is a matter of great importance for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It is imperative to adjust the age structure of the population and improve the overall quality of the population. At present, China has entered an era of declining birth rates. In 2023, the birth rate fell to 6.39‰, the death rate rose to 7.87‰, and the natural population growth rate further declined to -1.48‰. Improving the child welfare system is a key measure to address the issue of low fertility, fully safeguard children’s rights, reduce the burden of childbearing, and enhance people’s willingness to have children, thereby adapting to the new demographic landscape. However, the current child welfare system in China still faces deficiencies in policy design, support for children in distress, and childbearing assistance. Future development should focus on strengthening child welfare policies in line with national conditions, enhancing support for children in difficult situations, and improving the system of fertility support policies.

Improve top-level design and strengthen policy support for child welfare.

Building a comprehensive and inclusive child welfare system faces a series of complex and multidimensional challenges. The key lies in institutional improvement and policy innovation. As society progresses and family structures change, child welfare development must go beyond traditional boundaries. A solid protection network should be established through legislation, fiscal support, and effective feedback mechanisms to ensure that every child grows up in a supportive and caring environment.

Improve the institutional framework of the child welfare system. Legislative efforts should be made to introduce dedicated child welfare laws, clearly defining the responsibilities and obligations of governments, families, and social organizations in child development. Coordination among families, schools, and society in child care should be promoted to ensure that every child enjoys nurturing care, basic livelihood protection, and welfare entitlements. A child-first approach should be upheld, with the establishment of specialized child welfare departments or cross-departmental coordination mechanisms led by relevant ministries. These bodies should be responsible for planning, issuing, and revising policies related to children based on evolving socio-economic and demographic conditions.

Optimize fiscal support for child-rearing. The current child allowance system selectively supports certain children in distress, but its coverage and depth remain insufficient. In the future, efforts should be accelerated to transform the child welfare system from moderate universality to full universality. A “universal” fiscal support system for child-rearing should be established, with improved child-centered subsidy and tax relief mechanisms. This includes the full implementation of the individual income tax deduction policy for childcare expenses of children under the age of three, and the exploration of child allowances and savings accounts. Direct subsidies should be combined with services to provide affordable early childhood education and healthcare, reduce the cost of child-rearing for families, and compensate for the opportunity costs parents face due to childcare responsibilities.

Value children's voices and feedback. The formulation of child-related policies must genuinely respect children's opinions, prioritize the best interests of children and adolescents, and uphold the principle of child-first development. A diversified participation platform should be established to solicit opinions from various stakeholders—including children—through interviews, online meetings, and surveys during both the drafting and implementation stages of child-related policies. This will help improve the policies through ongoing revisions and refinements.

Strengthen Welfare Protection for Children in Difficult Circumstances and Improve Their Environment for Healthy Development.

Children represent the hope of families and the future of the nation. However, in the process of social development, some children face survival, developmental, and safety challenges due to lack of effective guardianship, family poverty, or physical disabilities. Ensuring the protection of children in difficult circumstances is essential not only for safeguarding their vital interests and healthy growth but also for promoting social stability and civilizational progress. Special attention should be given to the following four groups:

Focus on rural left-behind children.According to data from the Seventh National Population Census, China had a floating population of 376 million in 2020, most of whom were rural migrant workers. Among their children—approximately 130 million—only about one-third lived with their parents in the cities. Rural left-behind children often lack adequate family education, emotional care, behavioral guidance, and academic companionship, which hinders their all-round development. Parents of left-behind children should be encouraged to maintain effective communication with their children in daily life, listen to their voices, understand their needs and concerns, and provide emotional support. Schools and social organizations should offer necessary assistance to ensure these children receive proper care and attention.

Focus on children from low-income families.Children from low-income households may not have access to quality learning conditions or diversified knowledge, which limits their horizons. The government should increase investment in the education of children from low-income families to ensure equitable allocation of educational resources. Families and society should also provide more support and encouragement, giving these children the opportunity to realize their full potential.

Focus on children from single-parent families.Parental divorce can lead to discrimination or peer exclusion, and often results in reduced household income. Support should be provided to help single-parent families raise their children and maintain livelihoods, with an emphasis on comprehensive protection. Efforts should be made to monitor their physical and mental well-being and academic progress—particularly addressing psychological issues stemming from loneliness—through proactive follow-ups, timely coordination, resource integration, and system-wide collaboration.

Focus on children with disabilities.The outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035* states: “Promote full coverage of education for school-age children and adolescents with disabilities, and improve the quality of special education.” A child welfare system should be established in coordination with community-based medical and nursing services to provide consultation and treatment for children with disabilities and ensure access to basic medical care. Disability support organizations and educational institutions should jointly build effective coordination mechanisms, promote the development of special education at all levels, and support the comprehensive and healthy development of children with disabilities.

Improve the Fertility Support Policy System and Build a Fertility-Friendly Society

In modern states, fertility support policies are essentially a form of child welfare system. By providing financial assistance, access to opportunities, and public childcare services, such systems aim to unlock the fertility potential of people of childbearing age and maintain a reasonable level of population replacement. Therefore, the development of an active and effective child welfare system is a core strategy for countries to stimulate fertility intentions. As China has now entered an era of negative population growth, it is crucial to formulate and optimize fertility-related policies that specifically target this trend, encouraging individuals of childbearing age to transform fertility intentions into actual behavior and successfully overcome the “low fertility trap.”

Enhance reproductive health services.Reproductive health services are a direct means of reducing health risks for mothers and newborns and serve as the foundation for the healthy development of future generations. High-quality reproductive healthcare should be provided for youth and middle-aged populations, including the prevention of infectious and major diseases, education on sexual and reproductive health, and the popularization of related technologies. The responsible use of assisted reproductive technologies should be promoted, with expanded training for healthcare providers and greater deployment of mobile and remote healthcare services to improve accessibility in rural and remote areas. Policies and legal frameworks supporting reproductive health services should be strengthened, with a focus on providing customized and diversified services for different groups and protecting patients' privacy. The birth defect prevention network should also be improved, with enhanced premarital, pre-pregnancy, prenatal screening, and diagnostic services.

Strengthen childcare service systems.Lack of infant and toddler care is a major barrier to childbirth. Efforts should be made to promote care services for children under age three and accelerate the establishment of a childcare system involving government, market, social organizations, and families. Pilot after-school care systems for primary school students should be explored, with schools serving as hubs for integrated care and educational support services to ease the childcare burden on families. Parenting support centers should be established, employing professional medical staff, psychologists, and child-rearing experts to offer guidance and counseling to parents. A community support network should be developed, pairing professionals with new families and offering both online platforms and offline activities to help reduce childcare stress.

Establish work–family balance mechanisms.Parental leave policies should be optimized by introducing new types of leave, such as parent–child leave, paternity leave, or emergency caregiving leave, to reduce the pressure of balancing career and family responsibilities. Enterprises should be encouraged to adopt flexible work arrangements, allowing employees with childcare responsibilities to choose flexible schedules or work remotely. A supportive social atmosphere should be cultivated to promote shared childcare responsibilities among family members and to ensure adequate attention to children's development. Special support measures should be provided for women to reduce the burden of childbearing and thereby foster a more fertility-friendly environment.

Foster a fertility-friendly social environment.It is vital to recognize and implement proactive fertility support measures with a sense of urgency. Media platforms and social organizations should be fully utilized to promote public awareness of China’s basic demographic realities and to advocate for appropriate-age marriage and childbearing, as well as healthy child-rearing practices. Reform of marriage customs should be advanced, and influential cultural and media works should be created to promote positive values around marriage and fertility. National campaigns should be organized to select and commend fertility-friendly workplaces, establish exemplary models, and motivate grassroots efforts, thereby creating a more supportive social environment for fertility.

Translated into English, the citation would be:Reprinted from Guangxi Daily (Theoretical Edition), February 22, 2024, Page 008.