GUANGZHOU - Guangdong provincial authorities have ruled out any significant change in the province's family planning policy in the next five years, in contrast to their earlier application for allowing qualified local couples to have two children.

A document on family planning in Guangdong's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015), which will be issued soon, states that a low birth rate is to be maintained, said Zhang Feng, director of the provincial population and family planning commission, in Nanfang Daily on Sunday.

In July, Zhang said the provincial authorities had applied to the central government and were waiting for approval to lead the country in relaxing the family planning policy.