New Marriage Law unveiled

China's Marriage Law [File photo]

China's first Marriage Law was adopted in 1950 and revised in 1980. The lawful age for marriage was amended in the new regulations. According to the new law, divorce was to be allowed if an estranged couple could not resolve their problems through mediation.

The divorce rate in China has increased since the enactment of the new Marriage Law, with more and more people looking for new partners for true love.

Chinese family life was threatened in the 1990s by an increase in factors like extramarital affairs and family violence. Legal experts reflected on further amendments to the Marriage Law to solve these problems.

The Marriage Law was revised once again in 2001, stating that a husband and wife shall be truthful to and respect each other, and no one who has a spouse may cohabit with any other person.