Beijing 23 Jan (ANA) - Birth rates in China rose to their highest level since 2000 last year, despite a fall in the number of women of childbearing age, say officials. The increase follows the relaxation of China's strict one-child policy a year ago. There were 18.46 million births in 2016, an 11.5% increase on 2015, according to National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) statistics. More than 45% of the babies born in 2016 had one or more older siblings. "While the total number of women of childbearing age fell by five million, the number of births increased significantly, showing that the family planning policy adjustments were extremely timely and extremely effective," said the NHFPC's Yang Wenzhuang. He said that by 2020, there were expected to be between 17 and 20 million births every year. Officials estimate that by 2050 there will be an extra 30 million extra of working age in China. Chinese officials credited the one-child policy with reducing overpopulation, poverty and environmental degradation.(ANA)

FA/ANA/23 January 2017-----