China plans to recruit more college students from a larger range of universities in this year's military conscription, which will begin on November 1, according to the recruiting office under the Defense Ministry.

To absorb college students into the army is an important measure to improve the cultural quality of the soldiers and optimize the structure of the army, said the head of recruitment Thursday.

Without highly-qualified soldiers, it is hard to improve the army's battle effectiveness, promote military reform with Chinese characteristics and realize the army's modernization.

The recruited college students can continue to enjoy preferential treatments prescribed in the documents issued in 2001 and 2002 by the related departments, according to the office.

The special treatments include being able to rearrange their school work, reducing or waiving the tuition fees, and enjoying priority in employment when they complete their service.

The would-be college soldiers were encouraged to serve in military units possessing complicated specialties and demanding high-level cultural quality, so as to bring their advantages into play, said the head.

The well-performing college soldiers can also be preferentially considered in studying technology, promotion, and applying to enter military colleges.

The college soldiers who finish their service will be selected as military students with top-priority when they study at school or will join a contingent of military cadres after their graduation.

China began to recruit college students in 2001. By the end of 2002, there were about 3,000 college students, including some 300 females, serving in the army.

(Xinhua News Agency October 31, 2003)