Officials say a group of 1,000 HK youths will visit Zhejiang from July 23 to 28 at a news conference in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province on July 18. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

Nearly 1,000 young people from Hong Kong (HK) will visit East China's Zhejiang this month, on a tour of the province with the aim of gaining a comprehensive understanding of its development, according to a news conference in Hangzhou on July 18.

They will go to 11 cities in Zhejiang from July 23 to 28, to get a sense of the province from different perspectives.

"The HK youths will be invited to visit historic and cultural attractions and high-tech companies in Zhejiang, and communicate with local young people," introduced Xie Hui, deputy head of the provincial United Front Work Department.

On July 24, the group of youths will watch a friendly match between volleyball teams from the HK and the Chinese mainland.

The exchange program, initiated in 2017, is organized for students from HK's high schools and universities every year. Most of the participants have never been to Zhejiang before.

Li Xiaoping, deputy director of the liaison office of the United Front Work Department in Zhejiang, said he hopes the program will help strengthen the ties between Zhejiang and HK in the future by making a good impression on the young people.