EU and China Begins Youth Partnership

Youngsters from the EU and China have been given an unprecedented opportunity to learn more about each other. After over 35 years of diplomatic relations, Brussels and Beijing are working on their first ever themed year, the EU-China Year of Youth. This includes almost 80 cultural exchange programmes, all designed to help young people from both sides understand each other better. CRI's Dominic Swire has the report.

Yu Qiongyuan is a 21 year old university student from Beijing. She's looking forward to learning more about the European Union.

"I'm a language student so I really want to know how can you handle so many languages, like three or four, and how can you maintain your own cultural diversity."

Yu Qiongyuan is taking part in the first ever youth exchange programme between the European Union and China. 2011 is the EU-China Year of Youth. This will consist of around 80 cultural exchange programmes focusing on areas including education, culture, employment and entrepreneurship.

The Chinese opening ceremony took place in Beijing's Capital Museum. It saw cultural performances from both China and Europe.

Boris Mladenov was one of the many young European participants at the event. He says the EU-China Year of Youth can help break down barriers.

"I think it's very important because there is much prejudice in the European Union about China and we have to fight this and we have to change our opinion because the reality is China is the second largest economy in the world nowadays and probably we don't know them so well. We also have this problem in Europe. I'm from Bulgaria we just became part of the European Union and we have prejudice in the European Union and I personally know how important it is to work in this area."

The event is the first time the EU's worked on this kind of project with any other international partner. Peter Matjasic is President of the European Youth Forum. He explains why it's important.

"I think it's because of the recognition of the fact the strategic partnership between the EU and China is important and knowing the deficiencies in terms of lack of knowledge and understanding between the two sides, the idea came to have something like this and it should be dedicated to youth, as the first one."

The relationship between the EU and China has been described as one of the most important in the world. The EU is China's biggest trade partner, and China exports more to the EU than anywhere else in the world. Organisers of the EU-China Year of Youth hope the next generation of leaders can continue this successful partnership.

For CRI, I'm Dominic Swire.