China halts foreign adoptions of its children

ISTANBUL – China has announced an end to foreign adoption of its children.

Mao Ning, spokeswoman for the country's Foreign Ministry, said Beijing will "no longer send children abroad for adoption."

"Hence after, apart from the adoption of a child or stepchild from one's collateral relatives by blood of the same generation and up to the third degree of kinship by foreigners coming to China, China will not send children abroad for adoption," Mao told reporters on Thursday.

"We express our appreciation to those foreign governments and families, who wish to adopt Chinese children, for their good intention and the love and kindness they have shown," said Mao, according to a transcript of her news conference.

Since China opened to international adoption in 1992, more than 160,000 Chinese children have been adopted by families worldwide.

Beijing's move comes as China's population started shrinking in 2022 for the first time in six decades. (PNA)