Chinese government playing cupid

With over 100 million youngsters in China opting to remain single despite attaining marriageable age, the government has launched an ambitious blind date drive to encourage single youths to get hitched.

Young singles are encouraged to participate in organised blind dates following a guideline issued by the Communist Youth League  an influential body attached to the ruling Communist Party of China, to help young people find the right partner.

Official data shows that more than 100 million Chinese people of marriageable age remain single. 

The initiatives came following reports that an increasing number of Chinese youth were disinterested in love life and were weighed down by tough working conditions and competition to succeed.