URUMQI - Vice-President Li Yuanchao has called for more efforts to encourage college graduates to work in China's underdeveloped western regions.

Li made the remarks Sunday at a meeting to mark the 10th anniversary of the implementation of the country's Western Project, a volunteer campaign organized by the Communist Youth League of China and the Ministry of Education to mobilize college graduates to serve in western China.

Official figures show that the project has sent a total of 160,000 college graduates to work in the western regions of China so far, and 16,000 among them chose to continue working there after their service periods ended.

Currently, 17,000 college graduates are working in western China.

According to Li, the project is a key decision made by the Communist Party of China to hone the abilities of college graduates, and the country's young people should embrace hardships to develop their careers at the grassroots levels and contribute to society.

Meanwhile, Li urged improved policies to ensure these volunteers' careers as well as their follow-up training.

Related stories:

VP to attend China-Eurasia Expo opening ceremony

Be innovative, Li tells graduates

Premier Li urges students to be pioneering

Li stresses need for reform