Beijing relaxed its birth control policy on Friday, allowing couples to have a second child if either parent is an only child.

An amendment to the Beijing Population and Family Planning Regulations was approved at a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress.

The city government will provide support by improving hospitals, nurseries and primary schools, and by protecting women's right to maternity leave, said Wang Delin, vice chairman of the Legislative Affairs Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress.

Xinhua