Beijing Looks to Limit Population Growth, Seeks 2020 Cap

Despite China's one-child policy having officially ended and the first babies of a new boom expected later this year, Beijing will seek to keep its population limited in order to continue reducing pollution and traffic congestion, with state-run news outlets suggesting a 2020 cap of 23 million Beijingers.

Beijing will seek to reduce the number of people living in central Beijing areas by 15 percent over the next five years, by moving residents to suburban and other areas, People's Daily reported.

The city is hoping to add no more than 300,000 new residents during 2016, and will continue to move certain industries and markets outside of the city. The municipal government already announced large-scale plans to relocate major government offices to Tongzhou and Lucheng, on the eastern edge of the city.

We questioned the effectiveness and necessity of moving markets almost a year ago to the day when the city government made similar statements in 2015. Adding to the mix this year is this statement: "Dongcheng District will limit its population by relocating hospitals and cutting the number of recruits in the technical schools." Um, ok. Well, try not to get sick in Dongcheng District.

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Photo: Sputnik News