BEIJING- Starting from the fall semester 2011, China will fund tuition for college students who suspend their studies to serve compulsory military service, in a bid to encourage them to serve in the army.

According to an official document issued recently by finance and education ministries and General Staff Headquarters of People's Liberation Army, China will fund each college student tuition of up to 6,000 yuan ($948) for each academic year.

The document said the policy initiative will help improve military recruits' quality and boost the national defense and PLA's modernization drive.

The fresh move came after China in 2009 started to reimburse new college graduates serving military service the tuition they had paid for college study.

China will start the winter session of nationwide recruitment of soldiers from November 1.