Beijing, Sep 29 (Xinhua) There will be no change in Beijing's policy to discourage couples, even with higher educational qualifications, from having a second child.

There will be no easing of restrictions on second child for people with higher educational qualifications, Li Yunli, deputy head of the Beijing Municipal Population and Family Planning Committee, said.

The current family planning policy would not change as personal quality is a complicated issue and certainly not guaranteed by high educational attainment, Li was quoted by the Beijing Times.

China's family planning policy encourages couples, apart from those from minority ethnic groups, to have only one child to control population growth.

The central authorities have delegated policy-making powers on the issue to local governments.

However, couples that meet certain conditions can have a second child. Beijing's population and family planning policy allows couples who are the only child of their parents to have a second child.

Li said that she hoped such couples would have a second child that would help solve labour shortages and deal with challenges faced in a society with an ageing population.

Beijing's senior citizens population of 60 years and above reached 1.97 million at the end of 2004, accounting for 13 percent of the city population.

This population is estimated to rise to 6.5 million by 2050, or 30 percent of the city's total population.