In Shanghai, a group of more than 90 Japanese college students visited THE East China Normal University (ECNU) to take in a museum and learn about Chinese history. The students were surprised to find so many shared common interests with their Chinese peers.

"Visiting here changed my outlook. I found Chinese students are quite open-minded and very easy to communicate with," said Ito Eriko of the Kyoto Women's University.

"I'm here not only to witness the rapid development of the country, I also want to make more Chinese friends and establish channels to exchange views with them on many common issues", said Aoyama Yasushi of the University of Tokyo.

"We have so much in common and so many differences between our two countries," the senior said, adding he would now keep an eye on news about China to discuss with his new Chinese friends.

In Chongqing, the young Japanese visited an exhibition hall on the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, which includes records on the air raids of Chongqing. Several visitors expressed the wish of "no more wars" in English.

In Chengdu, a delegation visited a farmhouse, while in Guangzhou, another group watched the operation of a wastewater treatment center with great interest.

The delegation members will convene in Beijing on Saturday to participate in the China-Japan Friendly Exchange Year opening ceremony.

The China-Japan Friendly Exchange Year was created last year by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda when the two met over lunch in Singapore at the Asian Summit in November. This year also marked the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Japan-China Peace and Friendship Treaty.

A series of youth exchange activities will be conducted over the course of the year in the fields of culture, academia, environmental protection, science and technology, media, tourism, film and television.

Chinese youth will visit Japan later in the year.