China has published the first book recording the country's efforts and achievements in population and family planning over the past five decades.

The book, with 1 million Chinese characters and numerous pictures and graphs, was written by the National Population and Family Planning Commission and published by the China Population and Family Planning Publishing House.

Zhang Weiqing, minister in charge of the commission, said that China's work in the field of population and family planning was good, in general, but faced unprecedented problems and challenges.

He asked all those who work in the sector to read the book and try to use the country's experience to push forward the work of population and family planning.

In the 1970s, China launched its family-planning drive. As a result, the population is 400 million less than expected over 30 years ago.

(Xinhua News Agency December 30, 2007)