The 2006 Root-Seeking Summer Camp in China has attracted over 5,000 overseas Chinese teenagers from 45 countries and regions, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council said at a press conference Friday.

The 5-day summer camp will officially begin Saturday, said Lei Zhenggang, a senior official from the camp's office.

Campers will attend an unveiling ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, visit cultural and historic sites in Beijing and experience designing their own cultural events.

This year's camp will have a record number of participants, with a total reaching more than the 2004 camp, which hosted 4,000 teenagers from 36 countries and regions.

The camp's office and the China Overseas Exchanges Association jointly hold a summer or winter camp once a year.

The camp aims to help overseas Chinese teenagers learn Chinese, and deepen their understanding of Chinese culture.

(Shanghai Daily July 15, 2006)