China's central government has just introduced a slew of new policies to support childbirth. Measures include strengthened maternity leave and subsidies. Local governments are urged to budget for childcare facilities and levy preferential taxes and fees for such facilities. The central government also called for efforts to build a culture which respects childbearing, marriages at the right age, and shared parental responsibility to raise children.

What demographic challenges does China face? How effective will the central government's new measures be in terms of addressing these challenges? Host Liu Kun is joined by Han Hua, Co-founder and Secretary General of Beijing Club for International Dialogue; Liu Yunyun, Deputy Executive Editor of the Beijing Review; Dr. Lauren Johnston, Associate Professor at China Studies Center, University of Sydney.