China has fully vaccinated 88.11 percent of its population against COVID-19 as of Thursday, a Chinese health official said Friday.
Last year, Jiangsu province recorded a negative natural growth rate for the first time since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.
As China's demographic development is at a key juncture, a political adviser has called for concerted efforts to build a family-friendly society, including influencing family and childbearing values among the younger generation.
China's population living in urban areas on the mainland increased by 12.05 million from the end of 2020 to 914.25 million by the end of 2021, representing 64.72 percent of the total.
This fast-growing industry is expected to continue on an upward trajectory, supported by multiple drivers including an aging population, rising incomes, and the continued enhancement of health services in hospitals and clinics throughout China.