Newlyweds to say vows at marriage registration

Marriage registration officers in China will hold a small ceremony for newlyweds and ask them to state their vows before granting them marriage licenses, in an effort by the Ministry of Civil Affairs to promote a sense of responsibility as the country's divorce rate climbs.

Shanghai and Beijing, as well as Shandong and Hubei provinces, have already initiated the new procedure in which marriage registration officers lead the newlyweds to read their vows, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Parents and friends of the couples are also welcome to attend the ceremony, which is free of charge, according to the authorities.

The year of 2012 saw an 8 percent growth in the divorce rate, the seventh consecutive year that China's divorce rate has climbed, according to a report from China's Ministry of Civil Affairs in June. It also said that for the first time since 2003, the number of people filing for divorce in China surpassed the number of people getting married.

"The new move can help prevent couples from getting married on impulse, which partly contributes to the rise of divorce rates," Wu Changzhen, an expert in women's studies at the China University of Political Science and Law, told the Global Times.

Li Ziwei, president of the Association of Marriage and Family Construction in Beijing, shared Wu's opinion, adding that many young couples do not understand the significance of marriage beforehand and that the ceremony will remind them of their duty.