Chinese state newspaper Xinhua said China would loosen its decades-long one-child population policy, which typically prohibits urban couples from having more than one child, according to a key decision issued on Friday by the Communist Party of China (CPC).
China's current family planning and one-child policy, which went into force in the 1970s to control the increasing population, limits most urban couples to one child and allows two children for rural families if their firstborn is a girl.
The Third General Session of the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) Committee was held in capital Beijing from November 9-12 with the attendance of high-ranking Chinese leaders.
Major issues concerning reforms in China were discussed while a roadmap to further develop China was presented during the four-day meeting.
The country will also put an end to its "re-education through labour" camps system as part of its efforts to enhance human rights and judicial practices, according to a key decision by the CPC.
Another policy document says the country will reduce the number of crimes which are subject to the death penalty "bit-by-bit," and will also open up the banking sector by allowing capable private capital to set up small and medium sized banks.
Meanwhile, it was decided that a working team would be formed to apply and monitor the reforms in China.
