More than 470 college and middle school students from Taiwan province and many Beijing students met Monday in Beijing to participate a week-long exchange program.

Sponsors hope the programs will strengthen young people's affection for their motherland and promote understanding between Beijing and Taiwan youth. This is the fifth such program between Beijing and Taiwan youth since 1999, and more than 1,000 Taiwanese students participated the courses.

Taiwan Affairs Office of the Beijing municipal government, Fengtai district government in Beijing and Beijing Municipal Science Association sponsored the program.

At the opening ceremony, the students signed their names on the slogan "Meeting in 2008" to express their wishes for 2008 Olympics, which will be held in Beijing in the year 2008.

The program attracted students from 14 colleges, high schools and middle schools in Taiwan.

The students are expected to visit sites of historical interest in the national capital. The program also includes activities such as literature appreciation, Chinese folk music play, handicraft display and speeches on Olympics, space and folk cultures.