The State Council approved the establishment of an inter-ministerial joint conference system for improving the birth policy, according to a reply letter issued on Aug 19 by the General Office of the State Council.

The letter also stressed canceling the part-time member and leading group system of family planning.

Led by the National Health Commission, the joint conference system consists of 26 departments, including Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

The conference's office is set in the National Health Commission to carry out routine work, and meetings will be held periodically, or unscheduled, as necessary. All member units shall, in accordance with their due duties and responsibilities, actively study issues on improving birth policy, formulate relevant supporting policies and measures or put forward policy suggestions, said the letter.

Vice-Premier Sun Chunlan will serve as the convener for the joint conference, and Ma Xiaowei, director of the National Health Commission and Meng Yang, deputy secretary-general of the State Council will be deputy conveners.

Members of the conference will be officials in charge of the member departments, including Yu Xuejun, deputy head of the National Health Commission, Vice-Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu and so on.