Xi calls for promoting volunteerism

President encourages providing more platforms, chances to serve the people

President Xi Jinping has called for promoting the volunteer spirit of dedication, friendship, mutual help and progress in a congratulatory letter sent to the second congress of the China Volunteer Service Federation on Wednesday.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, urged Party committees and governments at all levels to provide more platforms and support for volunteer service.

Volunteer service marks the progress of social civilization, Xi said in the letter.

Noting that China's volunteer workers and organizations have provided services to people in communities, villages and other grassroots areas since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, Xi said this highlights their belief, kindness and responsibility.

It is a vivid demonstration that the Chinese people are faithful, the country is powerful and the nation is hopeful, he said.

Xi said he hoped the volunteer workers and organizations push forward the volunteer spirit and continue their good deeds in the new era.

He also urged the China Volunteer Service Federation to honestly fulfill its duties and create conditions for the large number of volunteer workers and organizations to serve other people and encourage dedication to society.

The China Volunteer Service Federation, founded in 2013, is a nationwide nonprofit organization.

According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the number of volunteers registered in the national volunteer service information system had exceeded 110 million by the end of 2018.

Xi's letter was read aloud at the federation's second congress by Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee.

Huang called for efforts to pursue a model of volunteer service with Chinese characteristics and better serve the Party and the country's overall work, as well as the people's need for better lives.

The second congress elected a new federation leadership and endorsed its charter, as well as a work report and a financial report from the first congress.