China is urging its colleges and universities to introduce lessons on love to promote positive views of marriage and starting a family as it looks to reverse its declining population. Reuters reports that China Population News, a state-run publication, found that 57 per cent of college students said they did not want to fall in love, citing difficulties balancing time between their studies and relationships. The publication said university students had a “vague understanding of emotional relationships”, and the new measures would help create a “positive marriage and childbearing cultural atmosphere”. China’s population is ageing and its population is declining, a demographic trend that will strain government spending. To combat this, Chinese authorities have launched various strategies, including a proposal to make marriage easier and divorce harder. But experts are sceptical about whether they will resonate with China’s youth.
