Pan Guiyu in Guangdong Province

　　Policy of rewarding families with one child has achieved significant progress.

　　A senior Chinese official says the policy of rewarding families with one child has achieved significant progress in population control since it was tested in rural areas last year.

　　Vice director of the State Family Planning Commission, Pan Guiyu said Thursday in Beijing that the reward policy would be implemented for the long-term in rural areas next year.

　　Last year the government started offering cash awards to farmer couples over sixty years old who only have one child or have two girls. These rewards will be given out annually for life.

　　Pan says there has been a sharp increase in the number families voluntarily following the one-child policy in the test areas.

　　The Commission says population control will help to establish a social security system in rural areas.

　　Pan Guiyu also says China's birth control policy will remain in place for years to come as the country still faces a net increase of eight to ten million people each year.