The number of cross-cultural marriages in on the rise. The number of marriages between Chinese people and foreigners is on the increase, but so too is the rate at which they are getting divorced. According to recent statistics from the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau, the number of intercultural marriages of Shanghai is rising steadily. In 2006, 2,960 marriages involving Chinese nationals and foreigners were registered in Shanghai, up 22.97 percent on the previous year. However, the number of mixed couples getting divorced in 2006 also increased to 355. The figures showed that marriages had taken place between Chinese people and foreigners from 55 nations and regions. Chinese-Japanese and Chinese-Canadian pairings were found to be the most likely to end in divorce. Although divorce has traditionally been discouraged in China, its incidence has risen rapidly since the 1980s. And with more and more mixed marriages ending in divorce, there is now a growing need for help and advice for those dealing with life after a failed marriage. A web-based survey conducted by the Weiqing Divorcees Club found that many of its members had been in unhappy cross-cultural marriages. "Loneliness, cultural differences and adapting to a new lifestyle were quoted as the main reasons for not being happy," the club's head Shu Xin said. The club provides a range of services, such as helping with the divorce process and advising on the process of getting remarried. On a more positive note, it also gives lectures on how to make a success of cross-cultural marriages. The Shanghai-based club claims to have about 1 million online members, most of whom come from major cities like Beijing and Shanghai. Almost 10 percent of its members are classed as foreigners, which encompasses expatriates, American-Chinese and those from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macao. 點擊查看更多雙語新聞 (Reuters)

目前，我國的涉外婚姻數量不斷增多，但與此同時，此類婚姻的離婚率也在不斷上升。 據上海民政局的最新統計數據，上海的涉外婚姻數量正在穩定增長。 2006年，上海市共辦理涉外婚姻登記2960例，比上一年增長22.97%。 然而，2006年的涉外婚姻離婚數也增加到了355例。 統計數據表明，我國的涉外婚姻共涉及55個國家和地區。其中，中日、中加（加拿大）結合的離婚率最高。 雖然我國歷來不提倡離婚，但從上世紀80年代起，離婚數量迅速增長。隨著涉外婚姻離婚數量的增加，如今為離婚后生活提供幫助和咨詢的需求也越來越大。 維情離婚俱樂部所做的一項在線調查發現，俱樂部中的很多會員都經歷過不幸福的涉外婚姻。 俱樂部會長舒心說：“孤獨、文化差異、及適應新的生活方式被認為是婚姻不幸福的主要原因。” 維情離婚俱樂部主要為離婚人士提供離婚手續及如何再婚等一系列的咨詢服務。此外，俱樂部還舉辦如何筑就幸福涉外婚姻的相關講座。 據介紹，這家位于上海的俱樂部共有約100萬名在線會員，其中的大部分都來自北京、上海等大城市。近10%的會員是大陸以外人士，包括華僑、美籍華人及港、澳、臺人士。 （ 英語點津姍姍編輯）