The Communist Youth League of China, the mass youth organization under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, opened its 17th national congress in Beijing on Monday.

On behalf of the 89 million members of the youth league, which was founded in 1922, more than 1,500 delegates from across the country attended the opening session of its five-yearly congress at the Great Hall of the People.

In a keynote speech delivered to extend the CPC Central Committee's congratulations to the event, Liu Yunshan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, urged young people to work hard to realize the "Chinese dream" of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Achieving the major goals of China's socioeconomic development that were put forward at the 18th National Congress of the CPC last year requires the continuous efforts of the country's younger generation, Liu said.

Li Pingyi, secretary of the youth league committee of the Foreign Ministry, said young people in the ministry are encouraged to do more grassroots work, which will help them to understand China better. At present, nearly half of China's diplomats are younger than 35.

"An important task for the ministry's youth league committee is to provide more opportunities for those young people to visit or do volunteer work in China's remote and less developed regions and rural areas," he said.

Li, 34, said after visiting such regions, young diplomats can better explain China's current development to foreigners.

Many young diplomats are sent to work in foreign counties or regions facing challenges such as warfare and disease.

Li was sent to work in Gaza for more than three years after he started working for the ministry in 2003.

"So the youth league committee needs to show more care and concern for those young diplomats," he said.

For instance, the ministry's youth league committee invited senior diplomats to communicate with young people on major international issues, he said.

Zhu Lijia, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Governance, said that it would be difficult for the country to realize its "Chinese dream" without the dreams and confidence of young people.

"China is now a country with many talented young people, but many such young people choose to work and live overseas now," he said.

"So government authorities should offer a fair and level playing field to allow talented young people to stand out and work hard to achieve the country's ambitious dream," he said.

Xinhua contributed to this story.

jinzhu@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily USA 06/18/2013 page4)