A draft law in Liaoning province makes it an obligation for adult children to contact or visit their parents regularly.
It is the first legislation of its kind in the country.
The province's standing committee of the people's congress recently released the draft - Regulation on Protection of Rights and Interests of the Aged - to seek public opinion.
It is expected to become law by the end of the year.
An article says if children do not live with their parents, they should "often send greetings or go home to visit them".
Government employees, who fail to do so, will face sanctions by their respective agencies.
Yao Yuan, professor and vice-dean of Renmin University of China's School of Sociology and Population Studies, described the draft as "social progress".
Yao said it is good in that it is China's first regulation to include a specific article requiring children to visit their parents.
"We used to emphasize the financial duty of children to support their aged parents," he said. "The regulation highlights the emotional needs too."
Yao said Chinese culture has always dictated the taking care of aged parents at home.
However, as the first "one-child generation" grows up and moves away from home many parents begin to suffer from loneliness and the so-called "empty-nest syndrome", he said.
Sui Ling, a 71-year-old woman in Shenyang, capital of Liaoning province, said her son works in another city, and is always so busy, so he can only return home to see her about once or twice a year.
"I miss my son very much but I don't want to interfere with his career," she said. "The new regulation is at least a reminder to him to come home more often."
Yao said about one-third of elderly Chinese do not live with their children. In Beijing, more than half of parents have "empty nests".
He suggested children should telephone their parents more often, write letters or send gifts.
"Elderly people really enjoy and rely much on ties with their children," Yao said.
A 65-year-old woman surnamed Shi said she hoped the regulation could have a clear definition of what "often" means and the consequences to children who do not contact or visit their parents.
Pei Pei, a graduate of the Communication University of China, said she feels "extremely guilty" of not being able to visit her parents often since she left Liaoning eight years ago.
Source: China Daily
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