The India Ambassador to China Vikram Misri (middle) and youths from the China-India exchange program listen to a speech by a team leader during the reception on Wednesday at the Indian Embassy in China. Photo: Li Jieyi/GT

To welcome a delegation of 176 Indian youths to China, the Indian Ambassador to China Vikram Misri hosted a reception at the Indian Embassy in China on Wednesday, before the youths head to Dun Huang and Lanzhou, Northwest China's Gansu Province on Thursday.

Consisting of students, professors and social groups, the delegation is visiting China from July 2 to 9 to attend a China-India exchange program, which is a part of the efforts of the two sides to promote people-to-people exchanges.

"By participating in this exchange program, I'm looking forward to meeting Chinese people, especially the people of my age," said K. Purna Vindhya, a 19-years-old student. Vindhya believes that she can learn more from Chinese people through communication. After visiting Tsinghua University on Wednesday, she said that she would like to have her further education at this university after graduation.

This is not the first time that China and India have participated in an exchange program. Jointly held by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of India and All-China Youth Federation, the program has seen over 3,500 youths participate in the China-India exchange activities over the past 13 years. Later this year, a Chinese delegation will pay a return visit to India.

Misri believes that friendship is the most important thing for the youths traveling in China. In his speech at the reception, he said, "What our two countries are looking towards is to build a long-term relationship of trust, friendship and cooperation between India and China."