BEIJING - CHINA'S army has changed its recruiting requirements to attract more college graduates as well as youths who were part of recent earthquake reconstruction efforts, state media reported on Tuesday.

Men with higher education qualifications aged 22 or younger can now enlist and women as young as 17 can also sign up, the official Xinhua news agency reported, citing the Ministry of National Defence.

Previously the People's Liberation Army - one of the world's largest fighting forces with 2.3 million service members - only recruited men between the ages of 18 and 20 and women aged 18 or 19 years old, the report said.

Young people who distinguished themselves during the reconstruction efforts after the May 12 earthquake in central China would also be given priority in enlisting, the report said.

The Chinese military's once-a-year annual recruitment period begins on Nov 1 and 2008-2009 graduates will be eligible to sign up, the report said. Most recruits retire after two years of service, it added. -- AFP