Half a million young people in Guahgzhou are expected to register next year as volunteers as part of a campaign to boost personal development and win the right to host the 2010 Asian Games.

More than 200,000 young volunteers in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong Province, are expected to get involved in this year's games bid. The number is expected to swell to 500,000 in 2005.

Tang Hanghao, secretary of the municipal committee of the Communist Youth League of China, told China Daily yesterday that all of the volunteers will conduct a series of activities to promote the city's vibrancy.

"A great opportunity, the 2010 Asian Games will require assistance from all youth in the city," said Tang.

Comparing Guangzhou's youth to those in Beijing and Shanghai, Tang claimed the youngsters in his city are more open-minded and well balanced.

"These are favourable qualities, but the youngsters here still have to improve their social consciousness to become more modern citizens and keep pace with international cities," said Tang.

Tang's committee has launched tree-planting activities in Guangzhou Science Town among the youth, to build an Asian Games forest.

All of the youngsters in the city are encouraged to plant trees in the forestry, which covers an area of 100,000 square metres.

Tang said next year, the number of registered youth volunteers was expected to hit 500,000.

"The youngsters here are not only required to participate to benefit the bid, but for the betterment of their own development," said Tang.

"We are going to attach importance to becoming modern citizens."

The city's youth will be required to follow the law, and develop healthy living habits and civilized concepts, according to Tang.

Tang said that the committee will focus on the personal development of the city's young citizens over the next five years.

(China Daily  April 19, 2004)