President Barack Obama said in Shanghai on Monday that the United States would further expand its youth exchanges with China by dramatically expanding the number of students studying in China to 100,000.

US President Barack Obama delivers a speech at a dialogue with Chinese youth at the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum during his four-day state visit to China, Nov. 16, 2009.[Pei Xin/Xinhua]

Obama said during a dialogue with Chinese students in Shanghai Science and Technology Museum Monday afternoon that young people in China and US are the best ambassadors and that cooperation between the countries should go beyond the governments.

"These exchanges mark a clear commitment to build ties among our people, as surely as you will help us determine the destiny of 21st century," he said.

Shanghai was the first leg of Obama's maiden trip to China on Nov. 15-18 since he took office in January.

"I believe strongly that cooperation must grow beyond our government. It must be rooted in our people, in the studies we share, in the business we do, in the knowledge that we gain, and even in the sports we play, and these bridges must be built by men and women just like you, and your counterparts in America," Obama told an audience of about 600 university students in Shanghai.

"I am absolutely confident that America has no better ambassadors to offer than our young people, for they just like you are filled with talent, energy and optimism about the history that is yet to be written.

"So let this be the next step in the steady pursuit of cooperation between our two nations and the world," Obama said.

After delivering the opening remarks, Obama took questions from students as well as the Chinese online community, covering a wide range of topics such as Sino-US cooperation, cross-Strait relations and anti-terrorism in the US.

The White House website Sunday posted a notice of Obama's meeting with Chinese youth, saying that holding the event in Shanghai was symbolic as the Shanghai Communique was announced here and helped pave the way for normalization and the first 30 years of formal diplomatic relations.

"If there is one thing we can take from today's dialogue, I hope that it is a commitment to continue this dialogue going forward," Obama said in his speech.