China Youth Corps celebrates its 50th anniversary

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday congratulated the China Youth Corps on its 50th anniversary.

Speaking at a reception organized by the corps to observe the occasion, Chen lauded the corps' service to the country's youth over the past five decades.

"We serve youth today, they will serve the country tomor-row," Chen said.

Founded in 1952 as an arm of the KMT in the country's universities and high schools, the president said the corps has successfully reshaped itself since 1989 into a non-political group aimed at serving youth, mainly students of universities and high schools.

He lauded the corps as an example of an old-school organization which has successfully modernized itself by shedding its historical burdens and political role.

Chen urged the group to stick to its current job of serving, caring and guiding the country's youth.

Besides wishing it happy birthday, the president said he hopes the corps has a long life.

Premier Yu Shyi-kun and KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) also sent congratulations to the corps.

At the reception, the corps' president, Jeanne Tchong-koei Li (李鍾桂), said the organization is launching five new services catering to youth.

These include a worldwide network of friends of China Youth Corps, an online study program, a bilingual center, a preparatory committee for the March 29 Youth Day celebrations and a hotline offering counselling on quitting smoking.

In order to celebrate its anniversary, Li said the corps' branch offices have organized 515 activities which have drawn more than 410,000 participants, including a highly-successful blood-donation campaign.