Enthusiasm for volunteering must be sustained and effectively harnessed

THERE WERE MORE THAN 12,000 VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS with over 100 million registered volunteers nationwide at the end of last year, according to statistics newly released by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Beijing News comments:

Volunteering has thrived in China since 2008, when the Beijing Olympic Games and the earthquake in Wenchuan in Southwest China's Sichuan province saw large numbers of volunteer organizations appear, tapping the public's willingness to participate in social causes.

The fast growth in the number of registered volunteers shows the remarkable progress China has made in promoting voluntary services to provide helping hands to needy parties.