BEIJING, April 19 -- China on Saturday kicked off its army recruitment of 2014, focusing on recruiting youngsters with higher education background.

A ceremony was held in the Tsinghua University to encourage college students in Beijing to join the army. More than 2,000 college students swarmed into the campus to consult or enroll.

Wang Yaping, the second Chinese female astronaut entering space, appeared at the ceremony and called on college students to take the initiative to join the army and contribute to China's building of a strong military.

The Ministry of National Defense have told recruit authorities to take in more college students than that in 2013. In municipalities and provincial capitals, only young people of high school or higher education background are accepted.

The young people can also enroll online through www.gfbzb.gov.cn.