China dismissed claims that its controversial 'one-child policy' is set to end in May, which would have allowed every couple in the communist country to have a second child.
The country's family planning authority said on Friday that the current policy will be maintained as the Chinese population continues to put "pressure" on resources.
Speculations of a total shift to a 'two-child' policy arose after an article appeared on a website published by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Tuesday. The article said the new family planning policy had already been 'approved' and would be implemented by May.
Responding to the report, spokeswoman of China's National Health and Family Planning Commission Song Shuli said: "This speculation is without foundation," Global Times reported.
While the one-child policy was relaxed in 2013 after three decades of strict implementation, only those couples in which at least one parent is a single child are allowed to have two children.
The family planning authority has, however, hinted at a possible reform in the future.
"The initial relaxation is not the end, policy reform will continue," Song said.
China's Communist party had brought in the one-child rule in 1980, following food shortages as the population exploded, as most families had four children.
The government came down heavily on couples who failed to oblige to the norm, slapping penalties and even conducting forced abortions.
Demographers have often warned that the policy could lead to a larger aging population than the youth, with some estimates suggesting that by 2030, a quarter of the country's population will be over 60.
