A Chinese youth delegation started its seven-day visit to Japan at the invitation of the Japanese government, a press release from All-China Youth Federation announced in Beijing on Sunday.

The delegation, led by Zhang Xiaolan, secretary of the secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China, consists of 200 members from different walks of life such as public servants, entrepreneurs, artists, scholars, teachers and university students.

During the visit, the delegation will attend the opening ceremony of the China-Japan Friendly Exchange Year, visit Japanese governmental organizations, enterprises and schools.

This year is the China-Japan Friendly Exchange Year set by leaders of the two countries and marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Japan-China Peace and Friendship Treaty.

The 200-member delegation is the first of its kind sent by China under the framework of the China-Japan Friendly Exchange Year. The two governments expect exchanges to involve 4,000 Chinese and Japanese young people each year in the next four years.

(Xinhua News Agency May 4, 2008)