Chinese high school students set to explore Japan

With fluent Japanese language skills and familiarity with Japanese culture, 31 Chinese high school students are ready for a 10-month exchange program in Japan.

Heart to Heart, a project run by the Chinese Ministry of Education and Japan Foundation, aims to build a foundation for future Sino-Japanese relations and promote communication between Chinese and Japanese teenagers.

"This will be a great opportunity for Chinese students to better understand Japan and its culture, and communicate with their Japanese peers," said Masao Yokoi, counselor at the Japanese embassy in China, in his speech during a farewell dinner for the group on Monday. "The exchange between the youth will strengthen the connection of both countries."

Yokoi said that last year Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out that the key to Sino-Japanese relations was within civil society. Thus, he said he believed students would enhance the interaction and become the bridge between China and Japan.

"We will try our best to become the ambassadors of friendly exchanges for the youth of the two countries," said Kou Zhuming, the student representative.

All 31 participants are strictly selected based on their language level and academic performance. Mostly coming from foreign language high schools, the students have studied Japanese for four or five years. Once they arrive, they will study and live in a Japanese-only environment.

The program will end in July. During their time abroad, these students will try to blend in with Japanese school life and take part in regional communicative activities.

This is Heart to Heart's 11th year.