China is to set up offices for marriage guidance at marriage registries, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
Marriage consultants will be supplied through government purchase of out-sourced services or recruitment of volunteers. They will provide free counseling to couples and families on request.
The new offices will offer one-on-one legal and relationship advice, psychological counseling or pre-marriage courses.
In some regions in China, such as Beijing, local civil affairs authorities already provide this kind of service and the system has been widely welcomed by the public.
The new regulations will take effect on Feb. 2.
