BEIJING -- China has begun a two-month drive to recruit young people, especially those with education, to its army.

The Ministry of National Defense is looking mostly for people educated to high school level or above, it said on Sunday.

The ministry also said it is seeking recruits from ethnic minorities who have bilingual skills or other specialties.

People aged 18 to 22 can apply to join the military, with the maximum recruitment age for college graduates extended to 24.

The army also welcomes high school graduates aged 17 or above.

In order to help the military recruit more college students, the country's top legislature amended the Military Service Law in 2011, raising the maximum age for recruits to 24.