A young Chinese couple from the Chongqing Municipality have reportedly sold their newborn baby for 2,500 yuan (6) and then used the money to buy a new mobile phone.

The story reported by the Chongqing Economic times tells us that the child’s 19 year old mother, Zhang Yao, met her 21 year old boyfriend Xin online. Their relationship flourished and Zhang gave birth to a bouncing baby girl in November.

The young couple feared that they wouldn’t be able to raise the child due to lack of financial support and so they decided to sell the little girl to a man who gave his name as Li Yong.

Police have reported that the child’s unemployed parents spend most of their time on the internet. Their parents were not inclined to give them any support and so they had decided to sell their baby.

Both are reported to regret having sold their baby and the mother, Zhang, told police that, after the baby was sold, she kept crying and that she now wants to raise a child. Xin, the father, has since asked police if he could retrieve his baby girl from the welfare center where she is currenty being cared for.

Staff at the welfare center have described the baby as well behaved, with a good appetite and not afraid of strangers.

Police have said that they are looking forward to reuniting the family and say that the baby should be returned to her parents very soon.

Although the selling of children for money is recognized as smuggling, a criminal offence, police are still investigating whether anyone should be held criminally responsible.

This shocking story from China is just the latest in which a very young couple have found themselves facing parenthood without planning or any means of supporting their child.

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