The number of members of the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC) reached 73.496 million at the end of 2006, the CYLC Central Committee announced on Friday.

Students accounted for 49.9 percent of the members of the CYLC, According to the CYLC Central Committee.

Earlier this year, a report published by the China Youth and Children Research Center showed that more than 800,000 young people joined the CYLC each year from 2000 to 2005.

The report said the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the CYLC were two most attractive political groups for young Chinese.

Founded in 1922, the CYLC is a mass youth organization under the leadership of the CPC and is considered to be the CPC's assistant and backup.

Chinese President Hu Jintao, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, headed the CYLC Central Committee from 1984 to 1985.

Source: Xinhua