BEIJING - State Councilor Ma Kai urged young officials working for central authorities to gain hands-on experiences at grass-roots level and to play model roles for the country's youth.

Ma made the remarks at a ceremony to honor excellent young officials from central government organizations on Thursday, the eve of China Youth Day, which falls on May 4.

The grass-roots initiative is a strategic one for fostering a strong force of young officials, according to Ma.

The state councilor urged young officials to deepen their understanding of China's actual conditions, and to develop love and care for the masses when working at grass-roots levels.

Ma encouraged young officials to volunteer their services to remote and underdeveloped regions where challenges abound. He asked youngsters to learn from their grass-roots colleagues, carry out fieldwork studies and be hands-on.

He added young officials should face grass-roots contradictions and problems head-on so as to forge their capacity and resilience.