President Hu Jintao visits Renmin, attending the opening ceremony of the China-Japan Friendly Exchange Year of the Youth
18th March, 2008
When spring quietly refreshes the world, the pleasant and comfortable weather witnessed another big event happening in the campus of Renmin University of China. In the afternoon of 15th March, 2008, the opening ceremony of the China-Japan Friendly Exchange Year of the Youth was held in the Centennial Hall. Chinese President Hu Jintao attended the activity.
Invited by the Chinese government, 1000 young Japanese got together with 1008 young Chinese to celebrate the opening of the year-long exchange program. President Hu met with the principal members of the Japanese delegation and watched the calligraphy performance and tea ceremony. Then he planted sakura and yulan trees, which symbolized the Sino-Japanese friendship with representatives from the two countries at Gallery of Various Schools of Thought of Ancient China.
Hu said to youngsters, "I love staying with the youth, not only due to my working experience in youth affairs, but because youth are the hope and future of the world." "China-Japan relationship is improving and this development should be cherished." "Chinese and Japanese young people should deepen their friendship to ensure a bright future for China-Japan friendship in the generations to come."
Representatives from the two sides unveiled the logo of the exchange year. By singing and dancing, the youth expressed their love for the Sino- Japanese friendship.
Both Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda also sent congratulatory messages to the ceremony.
The China-Japan Friendly Exchange Year of the Youth was created last year by Wen and Fukuda. A memorandum of understanding on the youth exchange year was signed during Fukuda's
It also marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Peace and Friendship Treaty.
A series of youth exchange activities will be conducted over the course of the year in the fields of culture, academia, environmental protection, science and technology, media, tourism, film and television.
