【摘要】Population and family planning legislation was initiated in China in late 1970s, and has prepared several draft copies. There has been a consensus on the necessity of the legislation among the government leaders at all levels and the masses, the population and family planning law, however, has not been formulated because of the large difference between the state policy requirements and fertility desires of the masses. 1990s has witnessed dramatic changes in China's population and family planning situation characterized by fertility reduction to the below-replacement level. Responsible for this change are family planning administrative mechanisms on the one hand, and the ideological and conceptual revolution occurred in the context of the market economy which has shaken the traditional fertility norms on the other. Also important is the transition of the family planning work from a management-centered manner to a service-oriented approach, which has received increasing understanding and support throughout China. The revolutionary transformation in the working ideology and style of China's family Planning leads to changes in the working environment of family planning that has provided very favourable conditions and created a best opportunity for coming out of China's population and family planning law. In this issue of "Population and Development Forum", four scholars are invited to write on this topic.