TAIPEI -- China’s stringent one-child policy is being re-evaluated after 20 years of enforcement. Eventually, couples in China may be allowed to have two children.

Earlier this year, the Chinese government appointed a special task force of more than 250 experts from various areas, led by three senior officials. The group specifically investigated the trend of population development and its potential impact on the economy.

According to the Xingdao Daily, the task force recommended that China gradually abolish the strict one-child policy and apply a more flexible two children policy. This recommendation is in line with a proposal presented to China’s National Population and Family Planning Committee by Chinese socialists in early 2004. The recommended policy allows women over 35 to have two children, starting in 2010. Every year, the age of eligible women will decrease by one year. Eventually all women will be allowed to have two children.

Yu Xuejun, director of Policy and Regulation Bureau for China’s National Population and Family Planning Committee told China Business that, although the government has not yet come up with a detailed two children policy, she thinks the two children policy is more suitable for China.

One of the main reasons for relaxing the one-child policy is that China is experiencing severe aging problems which have caused a growing burden for the government. In addition, the one-child policy forced more savings for retirement, which is causing less spending and fewer investments.