Nine Chinese volunteers left China Wednesday for Guyana, starting a one-year program sponsored by the Chinese government to provide agricultural, medical and educational services.

"This is the first time we've sent young volunteers to South America since the program started in 2002," an official with the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Youth League said.

The official said 202 Chinese volunteers so far had worked in many Asian and African countries, including Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and the Seychelles.

In September, organizers launched a new round of recruitment of volunteers aged 20 to 35 to work in Asia, Africa and South America.

The organizers -- the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China, Ministry of Commerce, and Chinese Youth Volunteers Association (CYVA) -- planned to recruit 150 to 200 volunteers.

"Our volunteers have won recognition from schools, hospitals and communities in those countries. Their efforts have helped improve friendship between China and developing countries," said the official.

(Xinhua News Agency May 31, 2007)