Chao announced a new program for young Chinese and American entrepreneurs, the US-China Youth Forum on Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Economic Opportunities, which will take place in Guangzhou from Dec 5-8.

Co-sponsored by the US Department of State and the All-China Youth Federation, this forum will bring together 100 entrepreneurs from the US and China. "It will provide an opportunity for young innovators from both countries to share insights and ideas and to further private sector cooperation and communication between our two countries," Chao said.

Educational exchanges are another pillar of people-to-people exchange between the two countries.

The number of Chinese students traveling to the US to study has grown exponentially. So far, there are about 1.42 million Chinese students who have studied in the US, according to Liu.

"Students studying in America also contribute significantly to our economy," DeVos said. "According to the Department of Commerce, international students bring nearly $36 billion annually to the US economy."

There are more than 14,000 American students studying in China annually.

Liu announced that China will launch a program to provide scholarship to 10,000 American young people for them to study in China for a short term. "I really encourage our next generation, the kids, to have fun in China, during the wintertime or summertime. Come to China," said pianist Lang Lang.

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(China Daily USA 09/29/2017 page2)