China's 400 Million fewer China's population reached 1.3 billion people in 2005 - one-fifth of total world population. Zhang Weiqing, director of the National Population and Family Planning Commission, has pointed out that thanks to its family planning policies over the last three decades, China has curbed fast population growth and prevented 400 million births by 2005. "The 400 million births, if not prevented, would postpone China's drive to build a well-off society," said Zhang. "Such an achievement should be recognised as many developed countries spent over a century before reaching low birth rates." [Xinhua News, 3 May 2006].

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