Chinese and Japanese children pose for pictures during a tree planting ceremony in Beijing.

They're taking part in a week-long cultural exchange programme designed to strengthen ties between the two countries.

All of these kids have been affected by natural disasters.

The Chinese children are from Yushu in northwest China's Qinghai province. They're all orphans after losing their parents in the devastating earthquake that hit the region two years ago.

The other students are from the northeast of Japan, which was hit by a huge earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster last year.

14-year-old Endo Ruka is one of them.

"If cultural exchanges like this can contribute towards a better relationship between China and Japan, this would be great."

Later the Japanese students joined classes in a Beijing school where they demonstrated their basketball skills. 14-year-old Di Zhiqing was one of the Chinese players.

"I'm very exited about this visit. The Japanese earthquake was really traumatic for these guys. We've never experienced anything like that, but they have our sympathy. They're the same age as us, we can be friends."

The Japanese delegation is being led by ex-prime minister Tomiichi Murayama. He was in office during the devastating Kobe earthquake in 1995, which killed thousands. He told us why this trip's important.

"We call this a friendship of generations. We share 3,000 years of history. In the old days Japanese monks risked their lives sailing to China to study. During our long history both countries have influenced each other. A good relationship is a long-term goal."

Relations between China and Japan have had their ups and downs to say the least. But the organizers of this programme hope events like this can bring both countries closer together.


词汇讲解：
1. pose vi. 摆姿势
例句：The family posed outside the house.
全家人在屋子外面摆好姿势准备拍照。

2. strengthen vt. 加强;增强;巩固
例句：It is a systematic attempt to strengthen our competitive ability.
那是为增强我们的竞争能力而作的有计划的努力。

3. affect vt.影响
例句：The tax increases have affected us all.
加税已经影响了我们所有的人。

4. devastating adj.毁灭性的
例句：It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.
这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。

5. exchange n. 交换, 互换
例句：There have been numerous exchanges of views between the two governments.
两国政府间曾多次交换意见。

6. contribute v. 贡献,提供
例句：He didn't contribute one idea to the document.
他对这个文件没有提供一个主意。

7. demonstrate vt.说明, 演示
例句：Recent events demonstrate the need of change in policy.
最近的事态表明政策需要改变。

8. sympathy n. 同情; (感情上的)支持
例句：I have much sympathy for you.
我很同情你。

9. generation n.同时代的人, 一代人, 一代
例句：People of my generation all think the same way about this.
关于这件事, 我们这代人都有同感。

10. risk vt.冒险; 冒…险
例句：The boatman was willing to risk ferrying them across.
船夫愿冒险渡他们过江。

短语讲解：
1. They're taking part in a week-long cultural exchange programme designed to strengthen ties between the two countries.

take part in参加…, 参与…活动
例句：John takes part in many school activities.
约翰参加很多学校里的活动。

2. Relations between China and Japan have had their ups and downs to say the least.

ups and downs盛衰;沉浮
例句：The company has undergone many ups and downs.
这家公司历经盛衰浮沉。

3. But the organizers of this programme hope events like this can bring both countries closer together.

bring together使相识; 使坐在一起; 使会面
例句：The opposing forces on the island have been brought together for peace talks.
岛上的敌对势力已经坐下来进行和平磋商。