China Offers $500 Annual Childcare Subsidy to Tackle Population Decline
In a bid to reverse its declining birth rate, China will now provide annual subsidies of 3,600 yuan (about $500 or €429) per child under the age of three, according to an announcement by state media on Monday.
This new national policy comes as China faces a deepening demographic crisis, with the country's population shrinking for the third consecutive year. The number of births in 2024 dropped to 9.54 million, half the figure recorded in 2016, the year Beijing ended its decades-long one-child policy.
The population slowdown, paired with record-low marriage rates, has sparked growing concerns over long-term economic stability. Many young couples in China are delaying or forgoing parenthood due to high living costs, career pressures, and limited family support.
More than 20 provincial-level administrations have already
introduced
local childcare incentives. Notably, Hohhot in Inner Mongolia offers families with three or more children up to 100,000 yuan per newborn. Similarly, Shenyang in Liaoning province pays families 500 yuan monthly for a third child until the child turns three.
To further encourage family growth, Sichuan province is proposing major reforms, including extending marriage leave from 5 to 25 days and maternity leave from 60 to 150 days, aiming to build what it calls a 'fertility-friendly society.'
Experts say these measures are a positive signal but unlikely to reverse the trend alone. Zhiwei Zhang, chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management, noted the move reflects China's recognition of the serious economic risks associated with low fertility.
Zichun Huang of Capital Economics called the subsidy a significant milestone in direct household support but warned it's too modest to boost short-term birth rates or consumer spending.
While the new subsidies may encourage some parents to consider having more children, others remain unconvinced. Wang Xue, a 36-year-old mother from Beijing, said the financial aid was not enough to influence her decision.
'Having one child is manageable, but if I had two, I might feel a bit of (financial) pressure,' she said.
China's government is expected to continue exploring broader reforms to slow the population decline and sustain long-term economic vitality.
read more
Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685
NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria
Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO
Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided
News
Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks
News
Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank
News
Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region
News
One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid
News
Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters
Arts & Culture
"Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date
News
China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier
News
Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia
Videos & Features
Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall
Lifestyle
Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt
Business
Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs
Arts & Culture
South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle
Sports
Get to Know 2025 WWE Evolution Results
News
"Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence"
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al-Ahram Weekly
13 minutes ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Israel derailing two-state solution, world must act before it's too late: UN chief - War on Gaza
The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres warned Monday that Israel's ongoing occupation and destruction of Gaza have pushed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to a historic breaking point, cautioning that the window for a two-state solution is rapidly closing — and may never reopen without urgent international action. Speaking at the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine in New York, co-organized by France and Saudi Arabia, Guterres said: 'The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has endured for generations, defying hopes, diplomacy, countless resolutions, and international law. But its persistence is not inevitable. It can be resolved.' However, he added, 'We are at a breaking point. The two-state solution is farther than ever before.' Guterres levelled his sharpest criticism at Israel, accusing it of inflicting collective punishment on Palestinians in Gaza and undermining the viability of a future Palestinian state through its actions in the occupied West Bank — including settlement expansion, settler violence, and open declarations of annexation. 'Nothing justifies the obliteration of Gaza that has unfolded before the eyes of the world,' he said. 'Nothing justifies the starvation of Gaza's population, the killing of tens of thousands of civilians, the fragmentation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the expansion of Israeli settlements, the rising settler violence, the demolition of Palestinian homes and forced displacement, the demographic changes on the ground… and the open support, including from a recent Knesset declaration, for annexing the West Bank.' 'We are at a breaking point. The two-State solution is farther than ever before.' UN Secretary-General António Guterres urges bold political action to salvage the two-State solution and halt what he described as the systemic dismantling of peace effortshttps:// — UN News (@UN_News_Centre) July 28, 2025 He described these developments not as isolated incidents, but as part of a broader Israeli strategy that is 'dismantling the building blocks of peace in the Middle East.' Guterres was direct: 'The creeping annexation of the occupied West Bank is illegal. It must stop. The wholesale destruction of Gaza is intolerable. It must stop.' He called for 'bold and principled leadership' from Israel, the Palestinians, and the international community to prevent the collapse of any remaining diplomatic horizon. Guterres urged leaders not to allow the conference to become 'another exercise in well-meaning rhetoric,' but rather a 'decisive turning point — one that catalyzes irreversible progress toward ending the occupation and realizing our shared aspiration for a viable two-state solution.' Reaffirming the UN's long-standing position, he reiterated that the only credible solution remains two sovereign, democratic, and contiguous states — Israel and Palestine — living side by side within pre-1967 borders, with Jerusalem as the capital of both. At least 142 of the 193 UN member states now recognize the Palestinian state proclaimed by the Palestinian leadership in exile in 1988. Israel and the United States were not taking part in the meeting, amid growing international pressure on Israel to end nearly two years of genocidal war on Gaza. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
15 minutes ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
President El-Sisi urges Trump to end Gaza tragedy - Foreign Affairs
President El-Sisi made these remarks in a televised address on Monday. During his speech, the president highlighted Egypt's honourable, sincere, and relentless efforts in supporting the Palestinian people. 'Egyptians, I'm reminding you of this — we do not change: We are committed to finding solutions that de-escalate tensions, bring an end to the war, and lead to a final settlement of the Palestinian cause,' El-Sisi said. Gaza needs around 600-700 humanitarian aid trucks daily, he added. Over the past 21 months, Egypt has been committed to facilitating the maximum possible amount of aid into the strip, he noted. The president also affirmed that the available amount of aid and that which has entered the strip is huge, stressing that nothing obstructs it from the Egyptian side. 'Neither our ethics, values, nor our national and moral responsibility would allow us to hinder it. However, the entry of aid requires coordination with the other party present at the Rafah crossing on the Palestinian side," the president stressed. He stated that having the Rafah crossing designated for the passage of individuals, its operation is not solely dependent on the Egyptian side. "The entry of aid and any movement through the Rafah or Karm Abu Salem crossings requires coordination from both sides," he affirmed. The president added that there are over five crossings connecting the Gaza Strip with both Egyptian and Palestinian territories. "Egypt is linked to Gaza through the Rafah Crossing and the Karm Abu Salem Crossing in one way or another." Moreover, El-Sisi renewed his call for the international community to exert every possible effort to stop Israel's genocidal war in Gaza, affirming that Egypt is working unwaveringly to alleviate the civilians' suffering exacerbated by the famine. He also emphasized Egypt's firm stance supporting the two-state solution and rejecting any attempts to displace the Palestinian people or liquidate their cause. Since 7 October 2023, Egypt has actively mediated efforts, along with Qatar and the United States, to reach a ceasefire, facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid to war-ravaged Gaza, and secure the release of captives. The president further highlighted that Egypt's consistent position is rooted in its support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. He also urged the EU countries, the United States, and Arab nations to do everything possible to stop the massacres in Gaza, stressing that the humanitarian tragedy there cannot endure any delay. "Egypt will remain a faithful and trustworthy partner pursuing a just and comprehensive peace. It will continue to support the Palestinian cause, regardless of the challenges," the president concluded.
Daily News Egypt
5 hours ago
- Daily News Egypt
Gaza on verge of famine as war escalates, ceasefire talks stall
The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip continues to intensify as the Israeli assault escalates and ceasefire negotiations stall, with growing warnings of an impending famine. The Gaza Ministry of Health reported that 88 Palestinians were killed and 374 others wounded in the past 24 hours, raising the death toll since 7 October 2023, to 59,821, with 144,851 others injured. Amid these devastating developments, Hamas leader in Gaza, Khalil Al-Hayya, accused Israel of backtracking on the understandings reached during recent ceasefire negotiations. He condemned the Israeli government for prolonging the 'genocide' in Gaza and stated that the immediate entry of food and humanitarian aid is a prerequisite for any continued talks. 'There is no point in continuing negotiations amid starvation and extermination,' he emphasized. On the Israeli side, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought to shift the blame for the worsening humanitarian situation to the United Nations, asserting that the Israeli military had opened safe corridors for aid delivery. His remarks came as an Israeli security delegation arrived in Cairo to discuss coordination over the Rafah crossing, signaling some technical progress despite the political deadlock. In Washington, US President Donald Trump acknowledged the dire hunger crisis in Gaza, pledging that the US would help establish unrestricted food distribution centers with the participation of other countries. He also stressed that Israel bears significant responsibility for ensuring aid reaches Gaza and vowed to remove any barriers to food delivery. The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has warned that all Gaza residents, particularly children, are suffering from hunger. UNICEF reported that since 25 July, at least 83 children had died due to malnutrition, and many others are risking their lives in search of food. The agency urgently called for the immediate entry of sufficient humanitarian aid. In the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer called an emergency meeting on Gaza, cutting short the government's summer recess. British MPs, across party lines, urged Starmer to take a stronger stance with Israel during his upcoming meeting with President Trump in Scotland. Meanwhile, Italy's Foreign Minister called on Israel to protect Palestinians and cease settler attacks in the West Bank, suggesting that the EU might impose new sanctions on violent settlers. Internationally, UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the use of hunger as a weapon of war, specifically referencing the Gaza and Sudan conflicts. Germany joined calls for an immediate ceasefire, warning of increased pressure on Israel if no progress is made on improving Gaza's humanitarian conditions. In a significant development, CNN revealed an internal US government review that found no evidence to support Israeli claims that Hamas had diverted or stolen American-funded humanitarian aid in Gaza, contradicting repeated Israeli allegations. Israeli human rights group B'Tselem has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, citing mass killings, forced displacement, and the systematic destruction of refugee camps. The group condemned the lack of international accountability, claiming that both Europe and the US have enabled these atrocities rather than stopping them. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi urged President Trump to exert maximum pressure on Israel to end the war and allow the entry of humanitarian aid. He reiterated that the situation in Gaza has become unbearable and that Egypt will not accept any attempt to displace Palestinians from their land. On the ground, Palestinian resistance factions continue to target Israeli forces. The Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, claimed responsibility for shelling an Israeli troop gathering near Al-Muntar Hill east of Gaza City, using 60mm mortars in coordination with the Ansar Brigades. In an attempt to bypass Israeli restrictions, Jordanian and Emirati aircraft have airdropped food aid over parts of Gaza. However, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs emphasized that air drops are not a substitute for coordinated ground access. Despite Israel announcing limited 'tactical pauses' in military operations for humanitarian purposes in specific areas, scenes of destruction and rising casualties continue to dominate Gaza. Dwindling supplies and a collapsing health infrastructure threaten to spark an unprecedented humanitarian disaster.
