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First of all, I would like to welcome you all and express my gratitude for your participation in today's press release. In Nov. 1997, the 52nd UN General Assembly adopted a resolution to designate the year 2001 as the International Year of Volunteers (IYV). This initiative has fully demonstrated the commitment of the international community to volunteer service and its common wish to further the development of volunteerism. Volunteerism and mutual help have always been the traditional virtue of the Chinese nation. With social and economic progress, the Chinese government has always attached great importance to volunteering service and advocated volunteerism to the whole society. Since the end of 1993 when the Central Committee of Communist Youth League of China began to popularize volunteer activities nationwide, volunteering endeavor has undergone great expansion. More and more people have recognized and accepted the concept of volunteerism and more people have taken part in volunteer activities. IYV 2001 has also promoted the development of volunteering service in China. In response to the UN initiative, this March, approved by the State Council, MOFTEC and the CYL Central Committee sponsored and set up the China National Committee for IYV 2001. This committee is responsible for the planning of all the major events in China during the International Year of Volunteers, to coordinate and guide various volunteering activities at all levels and to promote international exchanges on volunteering. The state councilor, Madame Wu Yi assumed the position as the president of this committee. Mr. Shi Guangsheng, Minister of MOFTEC, and Mr. Zhou Qiang, first secretary of the CYL Central Committee are the executive presidents of the IYV Committee. During the IYV period, while guiding the nationwide volunteering service, the committee plans to carry out the following activities: 2001 International Conference on Volunteering, the Philanthropic Performance for IYV 2001, Seminar on Volunteer Services and Implementation of Overseas Volunteer Service Project. The Chinese government appreciates the unremitting efforts of the UN, especially of UNDP and UNV in promoting volunteering activities and IYV. Over the past two decades, the Chinese government has conducted fruitful cooperation with UNDP and UNV. Since 1981, UNV has sent to China about 200 volunteers specialized in education, health, science and technology, environmental protection and poverty reduction. In return, China has also sent more than 160 volunteers specialized in agriculture, water conservancy and health care to over 30 developing countries through UNV. Moreover, some other international volunteering organizations have also done a lot of work in China. The Chinese government is willing to take the IYV as the starting point to further strengthen the cooperation with UNV and other international volunteer organizations so as to advance volunteering service in China as well as in the whole world. We sincerely welcome national and international organizations, relevant agencies and other personnel to support and participate in the activities taking place during the International Year of Volunteers in China. Thank you. |