Baby becomes China's 1.3 billionth citizen

A baby boy born in Beijing yesterday became China's 1.3 billionth citizen, the Government said, using the occasion to tout its contentious one-child policy.

China imposed a policy of allowing one child per family about 30 years ago, following a post-World War II baby boom.

Couples who have unsanctioned children have faced heavy fines, job losses and forced sterilisation.

China would have reached 1.3 billion four years earlier if not for its family planning policy, the official Xinhua News Agency said.