China officially ends one-child policy with law amendment

World Today

FILE – In this Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012, file photo, a Chinese woman plays with her grandchild at the Ritan Park in Beijing. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Chinese lawmakers passed several major laws and decisions on Sunday, including the first counter-terrorism law, the first law against domestic violence and the decision to allow all couples to have two children.

They also adopted decisions to amend the law on education and the law on population and family planning.

The lawmakers adopted these laws and decisions Sunday afternoon at the end of a week-long bimonthly session of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee in Beijing.

Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the session.

He said the counter-terrorism law is an important aspect of the national security law system and provides a powerful legal guarantee for fighting terrorism.

Zhang also said China should use the anti-domestic violence law to raise public awareness in protecting vulnerable groups such as women and minors.