Chinese President Jiang Zemin recently sent a letter praising the activities of some outstanding youth volunteers.

He wrote that their work and sacrifice is a lofty undertaking, and illustrates China's tradition of helping the needy.

Jiang, also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, also encouraged the young people to make greater contributions to China's reforms.

The Chinese Communist Youth League's (CCYL) Central Committee has called on its local branches to study Jiang's words and expand youth volunteer programs.

Since the CCYL Central Committee organized the volunteer plan in 1993, over 4,000 young people have helped more than 150 poverty-stricken counties.