In recent years, the population in mainland China has been rapidly decreasing, accompanied by a consistent decline in fertility rates. A recent exchange event between the Renmin University of China and the Kazakhstani State Counselor Karlin sparked controversy when mainland Chinese scholar Wang Xianju raised the question: How can Kazakhstan encourage female college students to “honestly and obediently have children, give birth early and have multiple children”? This statement received strong criticism from netizens across the internet. The Kazakhstani International News Agency quickly took to Weibo to introduce Kazakhstan’s well-developed social welfare system, igniting a heated debate once again.
According to information from the Renmin University of China’s Chongyang Institute of Financial Studies website, on November 22nd, Yerlan Karlin, the State Counselor of the Republic of Kazakhstan, visited Renmin University and delivered a speech on the theme of “Reform in Kazakhstan and the Permanent Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between China and Kazakhstan”.
During the subsequent discussion session following the speech, Wang Xianju from Renmin University of China mentioned the high fertility rates in Kazakhstan compared to the low fertility rates in China.
Wang Xianju pointed out that Chinese girls nowadays are generally unwilling to get married and have children. He stated, “Whether it’s parents or leaders, even if you encourage or advise them, they won’t listen.”
Wang Xianju questioned, “Many children are born in Kazakhstan. How can female college students believe your words and obediently have children, give birth early and have multiple children?”
Yerlan Karlin responded by stating that Kazakhstan does not force women to have children or make choices for them. Kazakhstani women actively participate in various aspects of society, including politics, ensuring human rights. Important laws regarding child safety and women’s rights were passed in 2022, establishing new mechanisms to protect women’s rights.
Yerlan Karlin highlighted that the Kazakhstani constitution states that all wealth belongs to the people, with income from oil and natural gas being deposited into the national fund. Each newborn receives dividends from the fund for future use in addressing housing and education issues. Through the collaboration of the state and parents, a new social norm is being formed.
The Q&A session was posted on the Chongyang Institute of Financial Studies at Renmin University’s WeChat public account and has stirred extensive discussions on Chinese social media platforms in the past few days. Many netizens expressed strong dissatisfaction with Wang Xianju’s questions.
Some netizens commented, “Are female university students supposed to be reproduction machines? Have children obediently and faithfully?” Others sarcastically remarked that resources in society are taken up by such scholars, leaving young people without money or confidence, leading to their reluctance to have children.
Another netizen mentioned, “The answers were very clear.” By respecting women’s rights, distributing wealth among the people, addressing housing and education issues, fertility rates would not remain low.
Currently, the Chongyang Institute of Financial Studies at Renmin University’s WeChat public account has removed this Q&A content.
Public information reveals that Wang Xianju served as the Deputy Director of the Eurasian Social Development Research Institute at the Development Research Center of the State Council of China from 2003 to 2005. Subsequently, he held various positions such as Minister Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Belarus and Deputy Director and Researcher at the Eurasian Social Development Research Institute of the Development Research Center of the State Council until 2014. Since May 2016, he has been the Deputy Director of the China-Russia Research Center at Renmin University of China – St. Petersburg State University.
The aftermath of the aforementioned event continues. On December 18th, the Kazakhstani International News Agency published a series of posts on Weibo, introducing how Kazakhstan supports multi-child families through improved social welfare systems, focusing on topics like female economic empowerment, subsidies for multi-child families, and promoting female healthcare, sparking a new discussion on “How the development of women’s rights can promote Kazakhstan’s prosperity”.
In the early days of independence after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, due to population migration and economic instability, many women in Kazakhstan were hesitant to have children. The population in 2001 was only 14.8 million, but it has now exceeded 20 million.
The article by the Kazakhstani International News Agency mentioned that last year, the President of Kazakhstan signed an amendment to distribute 50% of the investment income from the Kazakhstani National Fund to minors under 18 nationwide, with the account unlocking once the child turns 18. This is intended to support education or housing expenses for the account holder.
Kazakhstani women are entitled to an average of 180 days of maternity leave and a 3-year childcare leave. Families with 4 or more minor children living together or students under 23 receiving full-time education can apply for the national multi-child family subsidies.
The Weibo post once again ignited discussions. Some mainland Chinese netizens indicated that this is clearly a response to Wang Xianju’s questions, and the forceful nature and frequency of these responses are considered unrelenting.
There were also netizens who made jest, saying, “A certain professor has insulted China, so how can we learn from other countries to turn Chinese women into reproduction machines, leading other countries to justify their respect for women.”
An article by Jixiaohua in the Sing Tao Daily stated that Kazakhstan has launched an impressive public relations campaign, successfully showcasing its national image.