A hundred African youths kicked off an eight-day China tour in Beijing on Tuesday with the aim of fostering closer ties with their Chinese counterparts.
Invited by All-China Youth Federation, they come from Algeria, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa.
The young people will visit companies, local communities, colleges, and the rural areas in Beijing, Nanning in southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and Guangzhou in Guangdong Province.
"It's a good opportunity for us to learn more about China and will help to establish constructive ties between China and Africa," said Djebba Fidele, head of the Cameroon delegation.
China plans to invite 500 African young people to visit from 2007 to 2009. In the next two years, 200 African youths will visit each year at the Chinese government's expense.
"We hope through the tours, African and Chinese youth can lay a solid foundation for our future friendship," said He Junke, secretary of Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China.
China held the China-Africa Youth Festival in 2004 and 2006, and will hold its third in 2009.
China has pledged to launch youth development programs in Africa and train 15,000 young Africans from 2006 to 2009. China has sent 87 youth volunteers to Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, and the Seychelles to work in sectors including healthcare, sports, agriculture and education.
Source: Xinhua
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