Nation to enlist college students as volunteers in Mekong River areas

China will recruit about 100 college students to provide volunteer services in areas along the Mekong River, the School of International Studies of Peking University, who will be leading the recruitment process, announced at a launch event held in Beijing on Sunday. 

The volunteer program is aimed at promoting communication between young people from six countries involved in the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation framework. They are China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. 

Ji Lingpeng, an official with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the LMC is distinct from other regional collaboration programs in that more emphasis is given to promoting communication between citizens. 

Zhai Kun, a professor in international relations at the university, said young people are a key force in driving forward the sustainable development of the LMC. 

He added that by mobilizing these young volunteers, the university plans to form a volunteer coalition under the LMC framework.