It is the first time in China for Khairiddinov Samariddin, a 17-year-old Tajikistan girl who has studied Chinese for more than six years.

"I'm very excited to have the opportunity to experience Chinese culture personally," said Samariddin, who wants to attend university in China because her parents live and work in Urumqi, the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

Samariddin is one of 188 students selected to take part in an inaugural summer camp in China organized by the Ministry of Education, traveling to Urumqi, Tianjin and Beijing.

The summer camp was proposed by Premier Li Keqiang to respect cultural diversity, enhance mutual understanding among people of different countries and increase the number of scholarships for students from Shanghai Cooperation Organization member countries, at the 12th SCO prime minister's meeting in 2013.

To ensure effective communication and learning in China, the students, who range in age from 8 to 17, were selected after basic language tests. Each speaks a second language, such as Chinese, Russian or French.

"Tajikistan has strong business and cultural ties with China. All of the students have a great passion for Chinese culture", said Ikromitdin Tavarov, deputy director-general of the department of preschool under the Ministry of Education and Science of the republic of Tajikistan.

In Tajikistan, some schools include Chinese history and language education even for primary-age pupils, Tavarov said.

Rizoeva Mehrona, a fan of Chinese martial arts, attended a half-day martial arts course at Tianjin International Chinese College. "It was so amazing," he said. "Before, I could only learn Chinese kung fu through mimicking the gestures while watching kung fu films at my home. Now I'm learning it in the hometown of China's famous kung fu master Huo Yuanjia."

During their three days in Tianjin, the Tajikistan students enjoyed many traditional cultural activities such as Beijing opera face painting, Chinese folk dancing and martial arts courses.

"We hope that the children can use their unlimited imagination to create unique souvenirs, forming China-Tajikistan friendships," said Zhao Hongtao, president of the Tianjin International Chinese College.