BEIJING -- A new draft of the marriage and family section of the civil code was submitted Monday to the ongoing bimonthly session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee for a third reading.

The draft proposed in a new clause that families shall establish good family traditions, carry forward family virtues and attach importance to promoting familial culture.

Besides mutual loyalty and respect, the new draft added that a husband and a wife shall also care for each other.

Family members shall respect the old and cherish the young, help each other, and maintain the marriage and family relationship characterized by equality, harmony and civility, according to the draft.