More than 40 Chinese and Japanese university students gathered
in Beijing yesterday for an eight-day conference to discuss topics
including the reasons behind the apparent deterioration of their
people's perception of each other.
Twenty-three Japanese and 21 Chinese students are taking part in
the 24th China-Japan Student Conference, dividing into four groups
to talk about economic links, friendship, life, culture and
careers.
Li Hao, one of the participants, said exchanges between
university students of both countries are necessary, for
face-to-face exchanges are "more real" than acquiring information
through the media.
The China-Japan Student Conference, set up in 1986, is aimed at
promoting exchanges and understanding between the students. To
date, 14 sessions have been held in China and nine in
Japan.?
(Xinhua News Agency August 18, 2005)