Recently, a vivid photo exhibition was held at McNicholas High School in Ohio, U.S. The exhibition showcased landscapes, cultural landmarks, and visit scenes from a trip to Jiangsu, China by youth ambassadors from the School in mid-November 2024. Through the lens, these young Americans learned about China's rich and diverse culture, historical traditions, and school life, while also building a bond with Charm of Jiangsu.

Each photo tells a story of “discovery”, and the shared experiences have helped build a bridge of exchange between the youth of the two nations. “It is one of the most eye-opening opportunities I've ever had to be able to visit China as an American youth ambassador.” said Thomas Stewart, a student from McNicholas High School.

The year 2024 marks the 45th anniversary of China-U.S. diplomatic relations. To implement President Xi Jinping's initiative to invite 50,000 young Americans to China in the next five years, Jiangsu organized the "Discover Jiangsu-American Youth Exchange Program" to high standards. Over the past year, 552 American primary and secondary school students from 30 states visited Jiangsu in batches—a fourfold increase from previous years.

Jiangsu has engaged in close China-U.S. exchanges for a long time. Educational cooperation in particular, started early with a wide range, high standards and fruitful outcomes. At present, 240 primary and secondary schools in Jiangsu Province have developed into sister schools with their 160 counterparts in the United States, continuously deepening the youth exchange between China and the United States.

"President Xi Jinping has stressed that the hope for China-U.S. relations lies in the people, the foundation is among the public, the future relies on the youth, and the vitality is at the local level," said Jiang Yong, director general of the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education. "By hosting the 'Discover Jiangsu-American Youth Exchange Program', we aim to build a platform and bridge for communication and friendship between the youth of China and the U.S. to promote mutual learning among civilizations and people-to-people connectivity."

Over the past year, groups of American youth have constantly discovered the "beauty of China" and experienced China's changes and development in Jiangsu. From learning Chinese, savoring cuisine, practicing martial arts, to observing tea ceremonies, they immersed themselves in traditional Chinese culture with joy.

"This is my first trip to China. Suzhou is completely different from Pennsylvania—it's just so cool!" said Yusuf Mekkaoui, a student from Pennsylvania who, along with 42 students and teachers from three Philadelphia schools, visited Suzhou from June 17 to 21, 2024. He was impressed by the garden aesthetics on campus of Suzhou No. 10 High School: "I felt a deep sense of history. It's so lucky to study here."

From June 9 to 13, 2024, a total of 50 students and teachers from Los Angeles visited energy material enterprises in Wuxi under the theme of "new quality productive forces," learning about the development of emerging technologies and the green economy. From June 12 to 15, 25 young Americans explored the beauty of wetland in Yancheng through close touch with red-crowned cranes and milu deer under the theme of "ecological protection for wetland". Later from June 18 to 20, another 12 students from St. Mark's High School in Delaware visited Yangzhou. There, they cooked Yangzhou fried rice, and explored the charm of authentic Huaiyang cuisine through special lessons themed cuisine culture.

According to a leader from Jiangsu Education Services for International Exchange, under their programs, U.S. students and teachers visited 13 prefecture-level cities in Jiangsu in 2024. In addition to campus exchanges, they were also taken to enterprises and cultural landmarks for immersive experiences in traditional Chinese culture and craftsmanship. Each visit followed the model of "each different region with different feature and theme", ensuring "new courses arranged for each day".

In a calligraphy experience class at Nanjing No. 1 Middle School in June 2024, an American student Mackey Lee, with keen attention, wrote down two Chinese characters "You Yi" (friendship in English)—a word he had just learned after arriving in Jiangsu. "The teacher told us that in ancient Chinese, the shape of character You resembles two hands holding each other. Though I haven't known my Chinese friends for a long time, we've built a deep friendship. I hope to carry it forward when I return home," he said.

Jiangsu is a cradle of Chinese culture as well as a vital carrier of Chinese civilization. The trip to Jiangsu gave American youth a glimpse of China's dynamic scientific and technological progress, injecting youthful vitality into the steady and long-term development of China-U.S. relations.

Moreover, higher education institutions in Jiangsu fully leveraged their academic strengths to conduct diverse and distinctive American youth exchange programs. In 2024 alone, Jiangsu universities welcomed up to 647 American university students for program exchange, including 96 students invited to the "Discover Jiangsu" International Summer Program for exchanges and studying in water conservancy, new energy vehicles (NEV), traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and other areas, and 45 students and teachers from the University of Pennsylvania invited by Southeast University for a summer architecture design program.

Duke Kunshan University organized an 8-day "Collegiate Immersion Bootcamp for US-Based Institutions to Jiangsu" from August 2 to 10, 2024. Through multidimensional and in-depth experience, a total of 90 students and teachers from nine U.S. universities, including Duke University, Columbia University, and Brigham Young University, experienced China's long history and culture and vigorous modern development in all aspects. Both young people from China and the U.S. broadened their international horizons and improved their ability for cross-cultural communication through the program.

"Educational exchange and cooperation bring the youth of two nations closer, and are programs for the future development of China-U.S. relations." Jiang Yong said, Jiangsu continued its efforts to make good preparations for the "Discover Jiangsu-American Youth Exchange Program" and encouraged more American youth to visit Jiangsu, and to become ones to observe Jiangsu, experience China, and carry down China-U.S. friendship.