Rescue group founder welcomes guideline

The founder of a civil rescue group that has taken part in rescue operations at home and abroad has welcomed a pledge by central authorities to foster more voluntary groups specializing in disaster relief and help with their capacity building.

The pledge was included in a guideline on promoting voluntarism that was released on Monday with the aim of legalizing voluntary groups' involvement in missions ranging from responding to disasters to caring for vulnerable communities.

Zhang Yong, who founded Blue Sky Rescue in Beijing in 2008, highlighted the importance of capacity building for organizations like his, especially smaller ones that tend to lack professional skills and equipment.