BEIJING, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- China will strengthen exchanges and cooperation with its neighboring countries to further deepen their mutual understanding and friendship, a senior Chinese diplomat said Thursday.

Hu Zhengyue, Chinese assistant foreign minister, said China supports social and cultural exchanges between different countries on the basis of respecting each other's tradition, social system and developing mode.

The recent years have seen dynamic exchanges between China and its neighboring countries and their cooperation has been broadened and enriched, Hu said in a Foreign Ministry media release.

"In 2009 alone, there are about 21.7 million visitors coming from northeast, southeast and south Asian countries," he said.

"Besides, more than 160,000 foreign students studying in China in 2009 were from Asian countries," he added.

China attaches great importance to enhancing communication and exchanges between young people of Asian countries, and has established young people's regular exchanging mechanism with Japan, India, Vietnam, Mongolia and Pakistan, he said.