BEIJING, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Eighty-eight years after its founding and after nearly 60 years in power over the world's most populous country, the Communist Party of China (CPC) still retains its vigor and charisma as more young Chinese join in the organization.

    A survey issued by the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee on Wednesday showed more than 80 percent of new CPC members in 2008 were under 35 years of age.

    Although the Party members under 35 still accounted for less than a quarter of the total 75.931 million CPC members by the end of last year, the 2.268 million new Party members under 35 have been the largest increasing age group since 2003, according to the statistics publicized on the observed day of the Party's 88th founding.

    The CPC was founded in Shanghai on July 23, 1921 when local warlords and the Chinese Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang, disputed the reigning power of then Republic of China.

    Among all 2.8 million new CPC members last year, college students accounted for 38 percent -- which was higher than any other professions.

    Another statistic from the Organization Department could also support the trend that the CPC is more attractive to young and well-educated Chinese: from 2002 to 2007, the number of college student Party members had increased by more than 250 percent.

    With ever increasing pressures in education, employment and promotion in office, the swift increase of young CPC members has raised suspicions about the real intentions behind joining the Party as Party membership is often seen as an advantage over non-Party members in competition.

    "In the early years after the CPC was founded, the primary motivation driving membership in the Party was not personal interests, but the country's future," said Li Zhongjie, vice director of the CPC Central Committee's Party History Research Center, "since they (members) would probably be jailed or even executed if their Party member's identities were exposed."

    It is understandable if some of 10 million applicants each year have personal concerns when considering applying for the Party membership, "since the CPC now as the ruling party has certain powers," Li said.

    The official said that after more than 80 years of development, the Party should respect its members' personal reasons for joining.

    "After joining in the Party, they should not abuse the power for their own gains but for the country and the people," he said.

    "I can see more and more college students joining in the Party and more and more new staff in the government and companies are Party members," Guo Weimin, director of the information bureau with the State Council's Information Office.

    "They are all outstanding members among the youth," Guo said.

    Ye Duchu, professor with the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, said the CPC needs outstanding talents, especially senior intellectuals and professional technicians.

    "A country, a nation and a political party all need to find qualified successors for its cause and career," Ye said. "The CPC has set a target to promote younger staff members to the leading posts."

    General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Hu Jintao said in his speech ahead of this year's Youth Day that the youth is the country's hope and is a valuable talent resource.

    Li Yuanchao, head of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, also described a campaign to enroll 100,000 college graduates to serve in villages as "a strategic move to cultivate successors ... ."

    Wang Xiaotian, a 24-year-old postgraduate graduating from the Renmin University of China this summer, said she still remembered the moment when she took her oath in front of the Party's flag as a sophomore.

    "I joined the Party because I believe the Party membership means you have been excellent or outstanding in various fields," Wang said. "I don't think that the Party membership could bring me too many advantages."

    "But the Party's membership is not the only method to prove your excellence and contributions to the country in such a diversified society. People do have free choices."

    Zheng Junyan, a 27-year-old company staff who also joined the Party on campus, said he felt quite proud to be a CPC member.

    "The Party has led the country and people quite well in coping with the international financial crisis," he said. "It has given us hope during the difficult time, which moves me deeply."

    "The Party truly deserves to be the guide and navigator of the country's economic and social development," Zheng added.