BEIJING - The Chinese government has promised to recruit more university graduates who have taken on leadership roles in the countryside in a bid to encourage more college students to work in the rural communities after graduating.

Next year, 10 to 12 percent of newly recruited public servants in the country will be college grads who have the experience of working as "village officials," according to the State Administration of Civil Service.

The government's move is aimed at boosting grassroots-level training for college students.

The number of university students with official positions in rural communities is expected to increase to 600,000 by 2020 from the current 200,000, officials have said.