Young people best ambassadors

Obama announced in his speech that the United States would further expand its youth exchanges with China by increasing the number of students studying in China to 100,000.

US President Barack Obama delivers a speech at a dialogue with Chinese youth at the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum during his four-day state visit to China, Nov. 16, 2009.[Pei Xin/Xinhua]

"These exchanges mark a clear commitment to build ties among our people, as surely as you will help us determine the destiny of the 21st century," he said.

He said young people in China and US are the best ambassadors and that cooperation between the countries should go beyond the governments.

"I believe strongly that cooperation must grow beyond our government. It must be rooted in our people, in the studies we share, in the business we do, in the knowledge that we gain, and even in the sports we play, and these bridges must be built by men and women just like you, and your counterparts in America," Obama said.

"I am absolutely confident that America has no better ambassadors to offer than our young people, for they just like you are filled with talent, energy and optimism about the history that is yet to be written.

"So let this be the next step in the steady pursuit of cooperation between our two nations and the world," Obama said.

"If there is one thing we can take from today's dialogue, I hope that it is a commitment to continue this dialogue going forward," Obama said in his speech.