Time and Money for Love: China Brainstorms Ways to Boost Birth Rate

File photo: Indigenous Wayuu children are pictured near Manaure, in the department of La Guajira, Colombia on February 23, 2023.  (Photo by JOAQUIN SARMIENTO / AFP)
File photo: Indigenous Wayuu children are pictured near Manaure, in the department of La Guajira, Colombia on February 23, 2023. (Photo by JOAQUIN SARMIENTO / AFP)
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Time and Money for Love: China Brainstorms Ways to Boost Birth Rate

File photo: Indigenous Wayuu children are pictured near Manaure, in the department of La Guajira, Colombia on February 23, 2023.  (Photo by JOAQUIN SARMIENTO / AFP)
File photo: Indigenous Wayuu children are pictured near Manaure, in the department of La Guajira, Colombia on February 23, 2023. (Photo by JOAQUIN SARMIENTO / AFP)

Concerned by China’s shrinking population, political advisors to the government have come up with more than 20 recommendations to boost birth rates, though experts say the best they can do is to slow the population's decline.

China dug itself into a demographic hole largely through its one-child policy imposed between 1980 and 2015. Authorities raised the limit to three in 2021, but even during the stay at home COVID times couples have been reluctant to have babies, Reuters said.

Young people cite high childcare and education costs, low incomes, a feeble social safety net and gender inequalities, as discouraging factors.

The proposals to boost the birth rate, made at the annual meeting of China's People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) this month, range from subsidies for families raising their first child, rather than just the second and third, to expanding free public education and improving access to fertility treatments.

Experts took the sheer number of proposals as a positive sign that China was treating its ageing and declining demographics with urgency, after data showed the population shrinking for the first time in six decades last year.

"You cannot change the declining trend," said Xiujian Peng, senior research fellow at the Centre of Policy Studies at Victoria University in Australia. "But without any fertility encouragement policy then fertility will decline even further."

A motion by CPPCC member Jiang Shengnan that young people work only eight hours per day so they have time to "fall in love, get married and have children," was critical to ensure women are not overworked, Peng said.

Giving incentives to have a first child could encourage couples to have at least one child, she said. Many provinces currently only subsidize second and third children.

To help alleviate the pressure on young families, the National Health Commission (NHC) issued draft rules on Wednesday that would allow qualified individuals to run day care operations for a maximum of five children up to three-years old.

China's birth rate last year fell to 6.77 births per 1,000 people, from 7.52 births in 2021, the lowest on record.

Demographers warn China will get old before it gets rich, as its workforce shrinks and indebted local governments spend more on their elderly population.

Experts also praised a proposal to scrap all family planning measures, including the three children limit and the requirement for women to be legally married to register their children.

Arjan Gjonca, associate professor at London School of Economics, said financial incentives were not enough and policies focusing on gender equality and better employment rights for women would be likely to have more impact.

CPPCC proposals such as maternity leave paid by the government rather than the employer would help reduce discrimination against women, while increasing paternity leave removes a barrier for fathers in taking more parenting responsibilities, experts said.

Demographer Yi Fuxian remains skeptical whether any measures would have a significant impact by themselves, saying China needed a "paradigm revolution of its entire economy, society, politics and diplomacy to boost fertility." (Reporting by Farah Master, additional reporting by Albee Zhang; Editing by Marius Zaharia and Simon Cameron-Moore)



Manga Arabia Partners with Korea’s Kidari Studio to Produce and Publish Webtoon and Manhwa-Style Comics

Dr. Essam Bukhary, General Manager and Editor-in-Chief of Manga Arabia and the CEO of Kidari Studio, during the signing of the partnership (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Dr. Essam Bukhary, General Manager and Editor-in-Chief of Manga Arabia and the CEO of Kidari Studio, during the signing of the partnership (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Manga Arabia Partners with Korea’s Kidari Studio to Produce and Publish Webtoon and Manhwa-Style Comics

Dr. Essam Bukhary, General Manager and Editor-in-Chief of Manga Arabia and the CEO of Kidari Studio, during the signing of the partnership (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Dr. Essam Bukhary, General Manager and Editor-in-Chief of Manga Arabia and the CEO of Kidari Studio, during the signing of the partnership (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Manga Arabia has partnered with South Korea’s Kidari Studio to produce and publish webtoon and manhwa-style comics. This collaboration aims to enhance cooperation in key areas such as scriptwriting, character design, and high-quality joint projects. Both companies will benefit from an employee exchange program to share expertise and further develop comic projects.
As part of the agreement, Manga Arabia will license and translate three of Kidari’s prominent works into Arabic, expanding the reach of these comics in the region.
Dr. Essam Bukhary, General Manager and Editor-in-Chief of Manga Arabia, highlighted the significance of this partnership in strengthening international collaboration in the comic industry. He emphasized that the exchange of creativity and expertise with global partners aligns with the company’s goal of producing content that meets global standards.
A Growing Market
Bukhary pointed out the global popularity of webtoons, projecting the market to reach $70 billion by 2030. He explained that this partnership would enable Manga Arabia to expand its presence in international markets, while offering culturally rich experiences that reflect creativity and foster cultural exchange between the Arab and Korean worlds.
Industry Impact
This partnership marks Manga Arabia’s first collaboration with a Korean comic production company, a significant step in solidifying its role as a key player in the Arab comic industry.
Manga Arabia has achieved numerous milestones in recent years, including the launch of youth and children’s manga magazines in both digital and print formats. The company’s applications have garnered nearly 9 million users across 195 countries, with over 220 distribution points in the Arab world and more than 250,000 monthly printed copies.
To further its international presence, Manga Arabia launched Manga International and established its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, a strategic move aimed at expanding its influence globally.
Kidari Studio’s Reach
Founded in 1987, Kidari Studio operates 14 webtoon platforms in nine languages across Asia, North America, South America, and Europe. In 2023, Kidari launched its first webtoon platform in the Arab world, with plans to rebrand it as DelitoonME. That year, Kidari earned over $94 million from webtoon subscriptions, with more than 55 million users worldwide.
As part of the Saudi Research and Media Group, Manga Arabia is dedicated to promoting Saudi and Arab culture through creative content. The company has successfully produced over 68 issues and supported more than 170 young creatives across the Arab world, positioning itself as a leader in the comic industry both locally and internationally.