BEIJING, July 2 -- The People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Thursday introduced a new regulation which allows soldiers to enjoy more free time.

The 12-item rules approved by the Central Military Commission detail managing ordinary troops and range from reducing meetings during workdays to increasing soldiers' time with their families.

The regulation aims to relieve stress in the army, and allows soldiers at least two evenings of free time each week.

Officers are allowed to leave camp and spend holidays with their spouses, and unmarried soldiers are allowed 20 days off to return home in a year.

To lighten their workload, low-level military officers are required to have no less than three ordinary workdays without any meetings every week.

Military authorities also ordered a reduction in such activities as inspections and observational visits.