The 3rd Annual U.S.-China High-level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange Working Session kicked off on Thursday in Beijing with nearly 30 topics scheduled to be discussed by 150 delegates from the United States and China.

Hao Ping, vice minister of education, said during his speech at the opening ceremony that China attaches great importance to the U.S.-China High-level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange Working Session.

Hao, also the coordinator of the Chinese side on the exchange mechanism, said the first two sessions laid a sound foundation for future work, and China is willing to work with the U.S. to make this session a success and implement the agreements reached by the two countries' leaders so as to develop the people-to-people exchange mechanism in a healthy and sustainable way.

The delegation was divided into five working groups to discuss various areas, including education, science and technology, culture, sports and women, during the two-day meeting.

In November 2009, the Chinese and U.S. governments decided to establish the high-level consultation mechanism to strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries. In 2010, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing the bilateral consultation mechanism. The two sides also agreed that the high-level consultation will be held annually, alternating between China and the U.S.

A package of exchange programs -- including those in which 100,000 American students will study in China in the coming four years and about 10,000 Chinese postgraduates will go to the U.S. for PhD programs, the two countries' young people had exchanges in the high-tech field, women leaders had exchanges as well as a series of Chinese cultural activities -- have been implemented during the past two years.