China is to establish a national pool of voluntary workers. The idea is to bring order and efficiency to the management of volunteer resources across the country, The Beijing News reports.

An association of Chinese volunteers will be set up on March 18. It will establish a database containing the details of a vast number of volunteers across China, according to the committee preparing for the establishment of the association.

Some 50 million people regularly carry out voluntary work in China, but the absence of relevant regulations and insufficient field management means they often can't achieve their full potential.

With the help of a volunteer database the association will find it easier to coordinate voluntary work across the country.

The association will also push for the creation of national regulations for volunteers.

Statistics from the preparatory committee show more than two thirds of China's cities and over 2,000 universities and colleges have founded volunteer associations.

A total of 70,000 volunteers served at last year's Shanghai World Expo, working as interpreters, receptionists, guides and media coordinators.

(CRIENGLISH.com January 26, 2011)