Second child births up in south China city

The number of second babies born in hospitals in the Chinese southern city of Guangzhou has surpassed that of first babies, local health authorities said Wednesday.

Guangzhou witnessed more than 123,000 new births between October and March. Second babies account for over 57 percent of the total, according to Hu Bingjie, deputy head of the health and family planning commission of Guangzhou.

In response to China's rapidly aging population, in 2016 the country started allowing married couples to have two children, ending the one-child policy implemented decades ago to rein a surging population.

"The new policy shift started to show effect since last quarter of 2016," Hu said.

He expects a baby boom this year with many more mothers giving birth to a second child.

Guangzhou will build more women and children's hospitals to ensure the balanced allocation of medical resources, he added. Endi