Participating in volunteer activities has become popular in China, a country that boasts nearly 14 million people sacrificing their free time to lend a helping hand.

Vice-director of Chinese Young Volunteers Association or CYVA, Lu Yongzheng discussed the situation at a forum for volunteer services and social development in southwestern city of Chengdu in Sichuan Province.

He said more people are now volunteering their time in China for charitable causes.

One hundred and fifty million people have participated in voluntary services like poverty alleviation, community construction, environmental protection and many other fields in the past 10 years.

(CRI December 7, 2004)