A delegation of some 100 Japanese students have begun an exchange tour in China's capital city, aimed at getting a deeper understanding of China and the Chinese culture.

On Sunday, the delegation had a busy day visiting the exchange center of Chinese and Japanese youth in Beijing. Clay-figurines, paper-cutting, and Chinese knots, were all on the young people's agenda of sights to see.

The students also had the opportunity to watch Peking opera, a tea ceremony, a martial arts demonstration, and traditional Chinese calligraphy.

In 1998, China and Japan signed a five-year plan to strengthen the exchanges between the young people from both countries. About 15,000 students from both sides have participated in the program over the past five years. The two countries have already signed a second five-year plan for youth exchanges.

(CCTV.com December 9, 2003)