More than 40 Chinese and Japanese university students gathered in Beijing yesterday for an eight-day conference to discuss topics including the reasons behind the apparent deterioration of their people's perception of each other.

Twenty-three Japanese and 21 Chinese students are taking part in the 24th China-Japan Student Conference, dividing into four groups to talk about economic links, friendship, life, culture and careers.

Li Hao, one of the participants, said exchanges between university students of both countries are necessary, for face-to-face exchanges are "more real" than acquiring information through the media.

The China-Japan Student Conference, set up in 1986, is aimed at promoting exchanges and understanding between the students. To date, 14 sessions have been held in China and nine in Japan. 

(Xinhua News Agency August 18, 2005)