At the heart of people-to-people exchange are young people, Vice-Premier Liu Yandong said on Thursday.

Liu spoke at the US-China Social and Cultural Dialogue (SCD) at George Washington University, an event that highlighted people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and the United States.

"The people-to-people exchange is a career that faces the public and the future. It has the special effect of building the bridges between hearts and minds," Liu said.

Liu said that young people have been the pioneering power in such exchanges. "I hope the young people can build a global vision, embrace a global perspective and face the future," she said. "I hope the young people in the two countries hold up the spirit of innovation, inspire each other and build the dream hand in hand."

Liu said she hopes that young people "can enhance the emotional ties, promote mutual understanding and deepen the friendships".

US Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos joined Liu to watch a panel discussion co-moderated by Yang Lan, co-founder and chairman of the Sun Media Group, and Bruce Dickson, director of the Sigur Center for Asian Studies at George Washington University.

"Since the 1970s, one of the drivers spurring the opening up between the US and China has been entrepreneurship," Chao said.