Over 100 youth from 25 member states of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) kicked off a voyage in Beijing Wednesday on water resources protection and cultural exchanges.

During the 9-day voyage, the youth from governmental and non-governmental organizations will tour along the Yangtze river, and they will also participate in symposiums on water resources protection.

"Both Asia and Europe are cradles of civilization, and the exchanges between the youth of the two continents will improve the awareness of the importance of environmental protection, and will promote cultural cooperation and friendship as well," said Zhou Qiang, first secretary of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China.

The voyage is cosponsored by the All-China Youth Federation (ACYF) and the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), and its theme is Chinese culture related to water and sustainable development.

Zainal Mantaha, director of people-to-people exchange of the ASEF, hoped that the voyage will enhance the mutual understanding among the youth so as to help them respect cultural diversity and lay the foundation for cooperation.

(Xinhua News Agency June 10, 2004)