China to Encourage Stamp Collecting

China will encourage more youngsters to begin stamp collecting, and enhance international philately exchange in the following years, China Daily reported today.

The daily quoted Liu Pingyuan, the newly elected president of the All-China Philatelic Federation, as saying that philatelic associations nationwide should protect their members' interests and rights, and help improve the skills and tastes of stamp collectors.

Liu made the remarks at the three-day national congress of the federation which was concluded Thursday in Beijing.

According to the English-language newspaper, China has more than 47,000 stamp-collecting associations, which have 4.21 million members across the nation.

China has attached special importance to fostering young stamp collectors, saying they can promote the hobby in the years to come, the newspaper noted.

Many schools in Guangdong, Henan and Hubei provinces and universities in Fujian and Jiangxi even offer stamp collecting as an elective course, it said.



People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/