China plans to recruit 17,000 college graduates to live and work in the country's western regions in 2012, up from last year's quota of 10,000.

"The year 2012 is a key year to deepen and consolidate the country's western project. Local offices affiliated with the project should make more efforts to encourage graduates to work in places where they are most needed," said Zhou Changkui, a senior official with the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC).

Zhou made the remark on April 17 at a meeting for the volunteer campaign.

According to a statement released after the meeting, this year's volunteers can apply to work in such sectors as basic education, agricultural technology, health care, grassroots youth work, social management and providing services in Xinjiang and Tibet autonomous regions.

About 10,000 of this year's volunteers will serve in the regions where ethnic minority groups inhabit, said the statement.

Students can apply for the program from April 17 to May 25.