In a break with past practice, China's young people have opted for frugality at the ongoing 16th National Congress of the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC).

The 1,500-strong delegates were told when the event opened Tuesday that the "family photo" usually taken after the opening ceremony had been dropped this year.

"It's a good decision, for it takes a lot of time and money to arrange more than 1,000 people in a big photo," said Zhang Yan, a delegate from southwestern Chongqing Municipality.

In addition, the conference was shortened by a day to run until Friday instead of Saturday, and sightseeing activities, including trips to the Great Wall and Tian'anmen Square, were also called off, organizers said.

"The meeting has become more compact, as we have group discussions arranged in the evenings," said another delegate, Liu Junyan.

Usually, vehicles are rented one week before the meeting opens. This time, however, the rentals began just a day before the opening ceremony, which organizers said saved a lot of money.

Delegates said they were told to avoid wasting food at buffets, pay for their own long-distance calls and keep air-conditioners at moderate temperatures.

"Frugality is important for building a resources-conscious society," said Lu Jun from eastern Zhejiang Province. "Our whole country is engaged in quake relief and many victims are still living in tents. We should save more money for the country."

Founded in 1922, the CYLC is a mass youth organization under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and plays a supporting role to it.

The number of CYLC members reached 75.439 million at the end of 2007, up 2.64 percent from 2006. About one in four, or 24.8 percent, of Chinese youth were members, according to the CYLC Central Committee.

At Tuesday's opening ceremony, the young people were praised by top officials for their positive role in disaster relief after the massive snowstorm in the south and east earlier this year and after the May 12 earthquake in southwestern Sichuan Province.

(Xinhua News Agency June 12, 2008)