Is there a way to avoid self-closing tags when using XML Serialization?

I am working with VB.NET and I am facing a problem with XML serialization. When empty values exists in the object I am serializing, the XML file contains the f开发者_如何学Collowing tags:

<tagName/>

instead of:

<tagName></tagName>

I know that it's the same, but I want the start tag to close appropriately.

---

They are the same and it makes no difference. Any parser or reader understands the meaning, so why is this so important to change?

I find the current behavior better as it will result in smaller files.

Regardless, there is no way to override this behavior.