About 1,200 young people from Japan have visited China this year through the organization or support of the Chinese embassy in Tokyo, and more are expected to visit next year, according to the embassy.

On Saturday, the embassy hosted a year-end gathering aimed at fostering more exchanges between young people of the two countries and shaping a brighter future for China-Japan relations.

Young people who attended the gathering made dumplings, a traditional Chinese dish enjoyed during winter solstice, which fell on Saturday, and presented lively performances.

Rio Matsumoto, 22, a senior at Musashino University in Tokyo, attended the embassy event. She was among a group of 18 Japanese students who visited China this year.

They were finalists in the All-Japan University Students' Chinese Speech Contest and the "Chinese Bridge" language proficiency competition for foreign students. Their trip to China included visits to Beijing and Chengdu, Sichuan province.

"Through the visit, I realized how much Japan and China have in common. The two nations share a deep history of cultural exchanges, and this trip helped me better understand this connection," Matsumoto said.

Last year, the university student had joined another group tour to China. They visited Shanghai and the cities of Guangzhou and Shenzhen in Guangdong province. "I experienced the warmth and friendship of the Chinese people, which made me very happy," she said.

Matsumoto said she and her team members were deeply interested in Chinese culture and highly motivated to study Chinese. "Interacting and exchanging ideas with my team members taught me a great deal," she added.

Addressing the gathering on Saturday, Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao said: "Exchanges are key to mutual understanding. With the reinstatement of visa-free travel for Japanese nationals, visiting China has become more convenient than ever."

Encouraging the attendees to seize the opportunity, he said, "You could even book a flight to Shanghai as early as tomorrow morning."

Noting that about 7 million Chinese tourists visited Japan this year, Wu encouraged more young people from Japan to visit China.

The Chinese ambassador recalled that in 1992, he was a member of a Chinese youth delegation invited by the Japanese government. A three-day homestay with the Ono family in Ageo, Saitama prefecture, remains a cherished memory, Wu said, adding that he reconnected with his hosts last year.

"I encourage you to nurture the friendships and connections made during these programs. Long-term friendships often grow from experiences like these, and I hope you'll continue building and expanding these relationships," he said.

Highlighting the importance of such exchanges, Takashi Kawazu, vice-president of the Japan-China Friendship Association, said: "People-to-people interactions have the power to transform lives. These encounters allow us to deepen our understanding and strengthen our connections."

This year, the association sent two groups of visitors to China, each comprising 100 members.

"These exchanges are fostering a love for people and places. Whether it is Japanese students studying Chinese or Chinese students learning Japanese, their shared efforts create extraordinary collaborations and lifelong friendships," said Kawazu, who is also head of the Japan-China Friendship Association of Ibaraki prefecture.

Qiao Ying, an associate professor at East China Normal University's School of Foreign Languages in Shanghai, said: "Young people represent the future of a nation. Promoting youth exchanges, fostering mutual trust and dispelling misunderstandings are crucial for the development of China-Japan relations."

Yuya Koga, a Kyoto University graduate who now works with a consulting agency, gave a speech at the gathering as a representative of those who visited China this year.

As the winner of the Panda Cup, a Chinese essay contest for foreign students, Koga earned the opportunity to visit China. "The trip was something I eagerly waited for, and it exceeded all my expectations," he said. "I planned to study in Beijing for six months after graduation, but the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted those plans."

The trip took Koga to Beijing, where he visited the Forbidden City, and Chengdu, where he saw the giant pandas up close. In Shanghai, he said he found the night views of the Huangpu River stunning.

"What impressed me the most was my interactions with local residents and fellow participants," he said. "At two local universities, students welcomed us warmly and gave us guided tours. I'm deeply grateful for their hospitality. The Panda Cup staff were also incredibly kind and friendly. I truly enjoyed our daily conversations."