Twelve years of separation couldn't change the mind of a woman determined to marry her boyfriend despite his life sentence in a prison in northeast China's Jilin Province.

The 32-year-old woman, Xiao Yan, applied to the prison authorities to marry Da Zhi, 31, (not their real names). The Changchun Prison, where he is serving his sentence for robbing a taxi-driver, finally approved the marriage last week. It was thought to be the first time a prisoner in Jilin has got married.

It is understood that Da Zhi's sentence has been shortened for his good performance and he will be released in September next year.

"Xiao Yan sent me six letters, and I was deeply moved by her sincerity," said Gao Ping, director of the prison. "Though Da Zhi was deprived of his political rights, he still had the right to marry according to the Law of Marriage."

The couple have seen each other regularly over the years. They were not allowed to spend their wedding night together.

"We haven't found any record in the province of people in prison registering for marriage, but based on the Law of Marriage, Da Zhi's good performance behind bars and Xiao Yan's 12 years of persistence led to us finally approving the marriage."

Many local citizens witnessed the marriage registration on Friday at the Changchun Marriage Registration Office. Prison officers accompanied Xiao Yan and Da Zhi. Da Zhi's parents and other relatives also attended the wedding ceremony.

The two young people fell in love in 1993, when Da Zhi was the owner of a stationery store and Xiao Yan was a store assistant on the other side of the road.

Their lives were to drastically change two months later when Da Zhi was arrested for robbing a taxi driver. He received a life sentence in June 1995.

Xiao Yan felt her world collapsing.

"No one knows how much I have suffered all these years; all my relatives thought I was crazy for having this idea of marrying him," Xiao Yan said.

"But I couldn't forget all the good times we spent together. I knew I still loved him although he was in prison, so I decided to wait for him, no matter what."

Da Zhi said: "When I knew that Xiao Yan was still waiting for me after all these years, I felt very excited. I swear that I will take care of her for the rest of my life when I am allowed to leave prison."

"I really couldn't believe my ears when the guards told me that officials had approved our marriage. Now I am the happiest man in the world."

(China Daily August 29, 2006)