US STUDENTS HOPE TO OPEN MINDS BACK HOME TO REAL CHINA

One of first groups to visit under Xi's initiative dispels misconceptions, builds trust

China's initiative to invite 50,000 young people from the United States to visit the country over the next five years is a smart move and will improve China-US relations, according to one of the first groups of US students to participate in the program.

President Xi Jinping proposed the initiative to invite US youths to experience exchanges and study programs during his visit to San Francisco, California, in November.

Fourteen students and a teacher from Indiana University of Pennsylvania were among the first to take part in the program, visiting China from mid-May to late May.