Japanese youths on amity visit

Six groups of Japanese youths reached China yesterday on a weeklong visit to enhance mutual understanding and take part in the opening ceremony of the China-Japan Friendly Exchange Year of the Youth on Saturday.

A seventh and last group, of 21 senior high school students, will land in Beijing on Friday.

Among the 1,000-strong delegation are 500 students from 84 senior high schools and 200 from 34 universities, including Kyoto-based Ritsumeikan University, where Premier Wen Jiabao played baseball with the varsity team during his Japan tour in April last year.