Volunteers take an oath during a launch ceremony for the volunteer program for the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, May 24, 2018. About 2,000 volunteers will offer services such as assisting with guests' arrival and departure, translation, and media requests during the 18th summit of the SCO. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

QINGDAO, May 24 (Xinhua) -- About 2,000 volunteers are preparing for the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in the east China city of Qingdao.

During the 18th summit of the SCO, scheduled to be held in June in the coastal city in Shandong Province, the volunteers will offer services such as assisting with guests' arrival and departure, translation, and media requests.

A launch ceremony for the volunteer program was held on Thursday, during which 700 volunteers took an oath.

Local authorities said the recruitment of volunteers, targeting ten universities in the city, began in January 2018. More than 20,000 people have applied for the posts.

Xu Guohui, a teacher at Qingdao University, said the school has 310 student volunteers, and they have been undergoing various kinds of training since March in order to prepare for their roles.