The Chinese Communist Youth League (CCYL) has called for the setting up of a long-term, sustainable mechanism to promote volunteer activities in the country.
It said this will ensure better support at the nation's top events and promote economic development.
Lu Hao, first secretary of the Central Committee of the CCYL, said the league needs to explore new systems to motivate more people to join in these activities.
He said (the volunteer system) will play a vital role in the 2008 Olympic Games, 2010 Shanghai Expo, and in earthquake reconstruction.
Lu was addressing the opening ceremony of the 16th Chinese Youth League National Congress at the Great Hall of People in Beijing yesterday.
All nine members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China attended the conference.
The league has called up more than 1.5 million volunteers to help out at the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games.
Lu said volunteer activities cover a wide range - rescue and relief work, poverty alleviation, community building, eco-biology and environmental protection.
About 70,000 college graduates have participated in campaigns to alleviate poverty in the remote western regions of the country in the past five years.
The league also is working on initiatives to enhance employment and entrepreneurship, looking for ways to better serve and meet the needs of young people, he said.
Lu said the focus of the league's work will be on children in the rural areas, children of migrant workers, orphans, the disabled and jobless families.
Also on the league's agenda is the establishment of a team of professional social workers to deal with issues related to the young.
Questions:
1. Why is the Communist Youth League calling for the setting up of a long-term, sustainable mechanism to promote volunteer activities in the country?
2. Where did the 16th Chinese Youth League National Congress take place yesterday?
3. How many volunteers had the league called up to help out at the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games?
Answers:
1. To ensure better support at the nation's top events and promote economic development.
2. At the Great Hall of People in Beijing.
3. 1.5 million.
（英语点津 Helen 编辑）
About the broadcaster:
Brendan joined The China Daily in 2007 as a language polisher in the Language Tips Department, where he writes a regular column for Chinese English Language learners, reads audio news for listeners and anchors the weekly video news in addition to assisting with on location stories. Elsewhere he writes Op’Ed pieces with a China focus that feature in the Daily’s Website opinion section.
He received his B.A. and Post Grad Dip from Curtin University in 1997 and his Masters in Community Development and Management from Charles Darwin University in 2003. He has taught in Japan, England, Australia and most recently China. His articles have featured in the Bangkok Post, The Taipei Times, The Asia News Network and in-flight magazines.
