A high school delegation from Washington, U.S., visited the Capital University of Physical Education and Sports (CUPES) and the National Stadium on March 19.

At CUPES, they visited the University History Museum, Olympic Education Museum, and Martial Arts Training and Research Center to experience the charm of Chinese martial arts. Later they were joined by counterparts from Beijing Academy and Beijing No.80 High School for a visit to the National Stadium (the Bird’s Nest), the world’s first venue to host the opening and closing ceremonies of both the Summer and Winter Olympics. There, they learned about Beijing’s Olympic stories, which enhanced mutual understanding and friendship.

Last November, President Xi Jinping announced a program to invite 50,000 young Americans to China on exchange and study in the next five years. The high school delegation from Washington was among the first participants in the program. The 40 or so members included teachers and students from Lincoln High School and Steilacoom High School, representatives of the U.S.-China Youth and Student Exchange Association, as well as officials of Steilacoom. At the invitation of the China Education Association for International Exchange, the delegation visited China from March 17 to March 27, 2024, and stayed in Beijing from March 17 to March 22.