“Although we are from different countries with different languages and cultures, we share a common aspiration for world peace.”

——Student Representative from the Second High School Attached to BNU

This year, Beijing has resumed the “China-Japan Teenage Ambassador” exchange program with Japan’s Aeon after a five-year hiatus. A “teenage ambassador” delegation of 40 high school students from Beijing and Hunan traveled to Japan for a week-long visit.

A total of 80 “teenage ambassadors” from both China and Japan visited the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Japan, showcasing the talents and vitality of the youth.

Friendly exchanges between “Chinese and Japanese teenage ambassadors”

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with 20 “teenage ambassadors” at his office, who were from Beijing National Day School and the Second High School Attached to BNU. Fumio Kishida noted that during his meeting with General Secretary Xi Jinping in San Francisco in November 2023, they agreed to strengthen people-to-people exchanges, especially youth interactions. He hoped that the participating “teenage ambassadors” would contribute to the friendship between the two countries.

Declaration of China-Japan Friendship jointly issued by Chinese and Japanese student representatives

Performance at the reception

At the reception hosted by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Japan, student representatives from the Second High School Attached to BNU and the Japanese high school jointly issued the Declaration of China-Japan Friendship. The “teenage ambassadors” expressed their commitment to engaging in bilateral exchange and cooperation to enhance mutual understanding and contribute to China-Japan friendship. A student representative from Beijing National Day School introduced their hometown, Beijing. Moreover, the “teenage ambassadors” from four Chinese schools performed a lively and energetic song and dance routine, Shang Chun Shan (Climbing the Spring Mountain), which received bursts of applause and cheers.

A traditional Chinese spring landscape painting presented to the Japanese side

An official from the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan warmly engaged with the “teenage ambassadors”, expressing a strong desire to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the two countries and foster greater friendship between the two peoples. The student representative from Beijing National Day School presented a traditional Chinese spring landscape painting to the Japanese side. The painting, depicting birds gathering on fresh green branches, symbolizes the friendly relations between China and Japan and the shared vision for a bright spring.

Further Reading

The “China-Japan Teenage Ambassador” program serves as Beijing’s flagship initiative in public diplomacy. Launched in 1996, it has been held for 16 editions, attracting a total of 1,491 high school students from both countries. In October this year, Beijing will host 40 “Japanese teenage ambassadors” visiting China.