China studies RI's family planning

JAKARTA: Fourteen Chinese officials are attending a course on reproductive health and family planning here from March 25 to April 2, Antara reported yesterday.

The officials met the state minister of population/chairman of the National Family Planning Board, Haryono Suyono, at his office Tuesday.

Haryono said the country's family planning program was successful because it had the support of social and religious leaders, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the media.

It was also successful because the program's strategy conformed to sociocultural values.

He said the program, involving 50,000 staff from the family planning board and NGOs, had lowered the population growth rate from 2.8 percent in 1970 to 1.6 percent today.

He said nearly 60 percent of the country's married couples of child-bearing age followed the program.

China is one of 86 countries which are sending officials to study how Indonesia runs its family planning program. (swe)