43,000 volunteers begin service in supporting rural development

BEIJING, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Since mid-July, 43,000 newly recruited volunteers under the "Go West" program have started their voluntary service at the primary level in 27 provincial regions, including Xinjiang, Xizang and Guizhou.

Their voluntary service will focus on rural education, rural development, public health and social governance in rural areas, among other fields, according to the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC).

This year, the program has witnessed a total of 83,000 volunteers in active service, among whom 90 percent are serving at the township level and below.

Since its launch in 2003, the "Go West" program has attracted over 540,000 college graduates and post-graduates engaging in voluntary service at more than 2,000 county-level areas, according to the CYLC.

The program aims to inject new ideas and vigor into the country's western region, regions with large ethnic minority populations and border regions. ■