At least 150,000 Chinese children have been adopted abroad in the last three decades.
China has announced that it is ending the practice of allowing children to be adopted overseas.
A spokeswoman said the rule change was in line with the spirit of international agreements.
At least 150,000 Chinese children have been adopted abroad in the last three decades.
More than 82,000 have gone to the US, a greater number than anywhere else in the world.
At a daily briefing Thursday, the foreign ministry said in the future Beijing would only allow foreign nationals who are relatives to adopt Chinese children.
Beijing said it would now only process cases covered by an exception clause.
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