Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday that China will invite 100,000 young Americans over the next five years for educational exchanges and study programs, an announcement made during a White House arrival ceremony as he met with President Donald Trump on trade, artificial intelligence, intellectual property and rare-earth minerals.
The pledge builds on an existing initiative, the Young Envoys Scholarship program, which China set up after Xi first promised in 2023 to invite 50,000 young Americans. The program is run by the China Education Association for International Exchange and has included university visits, summer programs and youth forums. Some trips are fully funded by China, while others require students to pay their own way, with the stated aim of building ties between young people in both countries.
The new announcement has drawn sharp reactions from critics who question whether the program is designed to shape how young Americans view China, and whether it could expose participants to legal or safety risks.
Warnings of propaganda and indoctrination
Manhattan Institute fellow Daniel Di Martino wrote on X that the program is
