In October, Beijing and Japan’s Aeon Group co-hosted the 2025 “China-Japan Teenage Ambassador” exchange program in Beijing, bringing together 40 high school students from Tokyo, Nagoya, and Hokkaido and 40 high school students from Beijing and Hunan.
The “China-Japan Teenage Ambassador” program is a flagship initiative of Beijing’s public diplomacy. Through reciprocal visits and exchanges among young students, it aims to promote mutual understanding and friendship. Since its launch in 1996, the program has been held for 17 editions, attracting 1,571 high school participants from both countries. In early July this year, the program’s activities in Japan were successfully conducted.
As a signature highlight of this year’s Beijing visit, a special session titled “Friendship Across Generations: Dialogue Between China-Japan Teenage Ambassadors and Senior Diplomats” was held at the Beijing Library. Cheng Yonghua, Executive Vice President of the China-Japan Friendship Association and former Chinese Ambassador to Japan, shared stories from his diplomatic career. He expressed the hope that the teenage ambassadors would dispel misunderstandings, deepen mutual understanding, and further strengthen the public support for China-Japan friendship through exchanges and dialogues. The teenage ambassadors engaged actively in the dialogue and expressed their commitment to an everlasting friendship between the two countries through concrete actions.
The teenage ambassadors also visited the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and the Department of Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They exchanged views with Yu Yingjie, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Secretary of the Education Work Commission of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, and Yang Yu, Minister of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Yu encouraged the teenagers to sow more seeds of hope for China-Japan friendship through practical efforts. Yang urged them to make the most of such exchange opportunities, broaden their experiences, engage more with their peers, and continue bringing fresh vitality and contributions to bilateral friendship and cooperation.
Visit to the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee
Visit to the Department of Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
A student representative from Sapporo Kaisei Secondary School shared, “I am 15 years old, and this is my first visit to China. During this trip to Beijing, I saw China’s advanced technologies and exquisite artworks, and felt the kindness of its people. All of this made a profound impression on me.”
Another student representative from Junten Senior High School in Tokyo remarked, “As teenage ambassadors, we have crossed geographical and linguistic barriers, learning from one another and deepening mutual understanding. I hope each of us can act as a bridge connecting China and Japan.”
The teenage ambassadors also conducted field visits in Beijing under the themes of sci-tech innovation, the development of Beijing Municipal Administrative Center (BMC), and cultural exchange. Their itinerary included visits to Beijing High-Level Autonomous Driving Demonstration Zone, Beijing Innovation Center of Humanoid Robotics, Beijing Library, and the Panda House in Beijing Zoo. They also participated in immersive classroom experiences and homestay exchanges with local families.
The 17th “China-Japan Teenage Ambassador” Program Held in Japan
