Couples in Fujian province can now have a second child if either parent is an only child, fj.xinhuanet.com has confirmed, on Jan 13, following remarks from the provincial governor, Su Shulin, at the Second Session of the 12th Fujian Provincial People's Congress held in Fuzhou, capital of Fujian province, on Jan 12.

Su said that Fujian will follow China's family planning policy and adjust to the new situation in addressing the matter of a population imbalance, with a focus on reducing reproductive defects and improving quality.

In the past, an urban couple could have two children only if the couple were both the only child, but the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China Central Committee, which ended on Nov 12, decided to relax the nation's one-child family rule by allowing a couple to have a second child if either of them is an only child.

By Lu Ting from China Daily Fujian Bureau

Edited by Zhao Qian and Roger Bradshaw