SHANGHAI, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's economic hub Shanghai has trained its first group of marriage counselors.

On Saturday 140 people obtained certificates for the new career, ready to offer professional consulting services on marriage and family life in the city.

The training was jointly sponsored by the human resources development center of the All China Women's Federation and China International Marriage and Family Association.

Sources with the women's federation said that the 140 people have signed contracts with three local marriage consulting companies to serve as volunteers and consultants.

The sources said a marriage counselor needs to understand psychology, marriage law and child education. The counselor should be knowledgeable about family relations and cross-cultural marriage, and capable of providing professional psychological and legal counseling.

Divorce rates in China are rising rapidly.

According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, 1.78 million couples separated nationwide last year, up 7.25 percent over the previous year.

Big cities like Beijing and Shanghai have the highest divorce rates. In 2002, Beijing recorded 76,136 weddings, but there were also 38,756 divorces, in other words, one divorce for every two weddings. The divorce rate in Shanghai is not available. Enditem