Chinese students encouraged to volunteer in rural areas

BEIJING - Chinese authorities have released a circular on launching a student volunteer program as the summer vacation approaches.

Students of colleges and technical secondary schools are encouraged to volunteer in rural areas with the aim to develop their sense of responsibility and mission and make contributions to the country's endeavor to win the battle against poverty.

In this year's program, 3,000 groups of student volunteers will be sent to do social practices in farmlands, rural communities, factories, workshops, military camps, former revolutionary bases, impoverished regions, and ethnic minority regions, according to the circular.

The program has been running for more than 20 years, with around 8 million students taking part in this event each year.

China aims to lift all rural residents living below the current poverty line out of poverty and eliminate poverty in all poor regions by 2020.

The country also plans to achieve the basic modernization of agriculture and rural areas by 2035, and the grand goal of a strong agricultural industry, beautiful countryside and well-off farmers by 2050.