China scholars discuss population issues.

The principal objective of the China Population Analysis Conference, held at the East-West Population Institute during May 1980, was to bring together specialists to share insights and information regarding demographic trends and related societal changes in China. In conjunction with the Conference, a Working Group was held. For 1 week 13 persons attended presentations on demographic techniques and computer programs available for analysis of China's population data, with emphasis on population projections, fertility estimation techniques, and economic demography. Papers reporting on China's population data, family planning policy and programs, and projections and consequences of furture population growth were presented. Several papers examined the sources and quality of China's population data. Participants acknowledged the sparseness of currently available data. They also recognized the exciting prospects for continued release of collected information and improved analysis as a result of the application of better analytical methods. For China as a whole, participants identified several important demographic patterns; early marriage is rare; there has been marked success in fertility regulation; the proportion of young people is high; and mortality levels appear to be low for a developing country. Official ideology in China's birth planning program is to combine state guidance with voluntarism. 2 particular examples of birth planning programs--the programs at Shifang County and at Tientsin municipality--were discussed in detail. The question of how rapidly and how far China's birth rate will fall in the next 2-3 decases was 1 of the most discussed subjects. Elements of the current population assistance program, proposed by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities, were outlined by Siri Melchior-Tellier.