China set to boost birth rate

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Jasmine Chen has been married for two years, but the idea of having children is not part of her plans. The 28-year-old bank teller who lives in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou said raising children in China is just too expensive.

?Even though anyone can raise children, regardless of their economic situation, I would want to make sure that I could give my children the best possible life if I decide to get pregnant, but that?s not what I think I could achieve,? she told VOA in a written response.

Chen is among a growing number of young Chinese women who have decided not to have children despite a growing number of government policy measures, including subsidies and other incentives, aimed at boosting births.

Last year, new births in China fell by 5.7%. That?s a record low of 6.39 births per 1,000. In contrast, the mortality rate was 7.87 per 1,000 people.

The decline has led to the closure of more than 14,000 kindergartens across China according to China?s Ministry of Education. Statistics also show more than an 11% drop in preschool enrollments, and kindergarten enrollments experienced a 10.30% decrease.