The desire for larger families has been considerably blunted by China's transition in recent years to a market economy.

ECONOMIST: China

Given the challenges ahead, China's new leadership should view this with some urgency: When the economy is in transition, unemployment rate will likely rise and more people will need help.

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But Mr Mantega was keen to play down the symbolic transition - which comes after China officially overtook Japan as the world's second-biggest economy last year.

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