The 2008 Beijing Olympics and Wenchuan earthquake have inspired a wave of participation and enthusiasm among Chinese people, to work as volunteers. And together with the country's opening up, an increasing number of Chinese are willing to join international programs and serve in other developing countries. CCTV reporter Li Nan finds out more from a forum for volunteers in Beijing.

Chinese volunteers serving abroad.

Liu Jie was working in an international organization before going to Africa as a volunteer in 2011. She stayed for a year, in the city of Kaduna, in northern Nigeria. She joined the local team and helped women and children living with HIV.

Liu Jie said, "The local environment was tougher than I thought. There were no electricity or clean water supply in the city. And there were several riots during my stay. But the women and children there need help. So it was all worth it."

Tough living conditions were not her only difficulty. Liu also had to quit her job to free up the one-year period. That's a sacrifice every Chinese volunteer needs to make when serving abroad.

Fanny Chan, General Manager of VSO China, said, "It is difficult because a lot of them are doctors and teachers. Once they leave the system, they might not come back and have a job. It is a very difficult decision. And sometimes the family dont understand. So I am very touched and proud of our Chinese volunteers, and the difference they are making, around the world."

Volunteers played an important part during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Since then, more and more passionate Chinese have devoted themselves to helping others. Like Liu Jie, many of them also hope to travel abroad, join volunteering programs and gain more experience.

A forum in Beijing was held on Tuesday to discuss how to better recognize and support the development of volunteering work in China. A key topic was the appearance of Chinese volunteers on an international stage.

Patrick Haverman, UNDP China deputy country director, said, "You see an interest of people from China. They want to help the rest of the world. As we now have a number of Chinese nationals, they are working in Africa and other less developed countries. And we see this as a very positive step."

With the reform and opening up in China, volunteerism has welcomed a impressive development. According to an NGO report, registered long-term volunteers account for at least 3 percent of the country's population.

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