On September 13th, 2025, the 4-day-long China-Japan Youth Elite Program, hosted by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, came to a successful conclusion. During the week, young students from the University of Tokyo, Tokyo University of Science, Osaka University, Nagoya University, Tohoku University and Shanghai Jiao Tong Universeity gathered in Shanghai. Through cultural experiences, city visits and in-depth dialogues, they enhanced mutual understanding and continued to write a new chapter of friendship between China and Japan with the power of youth. 

Forum

The event took place on September 12 at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, featuring an open day and a student forum of six Chinese and Japanese universities. Vice President Liu Weidong delivered a speech, welcoming Japanese students and highlighting the camp's role as a key platform for youth exchange since 2019. He encouraged Japanese participants to experience real China beyond stereotypes and urged Chinese students to sincerely share China's stories. Using the metaphor of "boating on the Huangpu River," he emphasized diverse perspectives and authentic experiences. He called for mutual understanding, trust, and cooperation to build a shared future in China-Japan relations.

Diverse Experiences
The program combined traditional Chinese culture with modern development, offering an array of immersive activities. In traditional culture classes, the students followed the teacher to learn Baduanjin, experiencing the wisdom of traditional Chinese culture with each inhalation and exhalation. Holding red paper and scissors, they created paper-cutting works with their fingertips, unlocking the dynamic charm of oriental aesthetics.

At the East China Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Base, they closely observed the research and development achievements and application scenarios of unmanned aerial vehicles, directly experiencing the innovative breakthroughs in China's intelligent manufacturing sector. Visiting the headquarters of Meituan, they were impressed by the convenience of mobile payment and the efficiency of instant delivery. At the Shanghai Table Tennis Museum, they discovered historical ties between China and Japan through sports. 

"China's progress in mobile payment, public transportation, and technological applications has far exceeded expectations. Every detail is refreshing," said Mutsuki Tanabe, a student from the University of Tokyo, in his sharing, "Having witnessed how Chinese technology changes lives, I come to understand the real daily life of Chinese college students. " 

In-depth Dialogue
Despite language barriers, Chinese and Japanese students built sincere connections through open communication and cultural exchange. Gu Fangting, a volunteer from the School of Foreign Languages at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, shared many warm moments: "Although some of the volunteers were not fluent in Japanese and the Japanese students' Chinese was still a bit raw, everyone was willing to speak up. The Japanese students would excitedly show off the new words and sentences they learned in Chinese class, and we would teach them interesting expressions in dialects. Laughter could always easily dissolve the language barrier."

Shared cultural roots helped youth find common ground in values and traditions. "During the exchange, I found that our respect for traditional culture and pursuit of a better life are the same. Gu Fangting said, "In this week of participating in the event, I have felt more deeply the intricate connections between Chinese and Japanese cultures. All the little interactions have convinced me that as long as there is more understanding and tolerance, Chinese and Japanese youth can definitely explore more possibilities for cooperation together." 

Everlasting Friendship
Although the week-long stay was brief, it sowed the seeds of friendship in the hearts of Chinese and Japanese students. From academic discussions in the classroom, exploring the city together, to late-night chats in the dormitory, they shared their growth stories, cultural customs and life ideals, gradually breaking through the barriers of language and culture, and reaping sincere friendships.

Many participants gained a more nuanced view of Japan and China beyond media portrayals. Many Japanese campers said, "Our previous understanding of China mostly came from news reports. Only through this personal experience did we discover that China's development speed and people's living conditions were full of charm." 

Since its establishment in 2019, the China-Japan Youth Elite Program of Shanghai Jiao Tong University has become an important brand project promoting exchanges between the youth of the two countries.

Editor on Duty: Tao Qingxiao