China aims to control its population within 1.5 billion for the next 15 years.

The State Council has made it clear its idea about the demographic strategy in the national guidelines on national medium- and long-term program for science and technology development (2006-2020), which was released on Thursday.

China will control the birth rates but improve the birth quality. The development of key technologies on birth monitoring and reproductive health will be on top agenda. Innovations on medicines, instruments and tonics for reproduction will be needed to secure a population of below 1.5 billion with no more than three percent birth deficiency.

In terms of disease control, China will shift its focus to the prevention of diseases. The efforts on promoting health will be combined with the efforts on prevention and treatment of diseases.

By People's Daily Online