Youth exchange between South Korea and China is expected to significantly rise from this year.

South Korea and China signed an accord Thursday to increase the number of young adults being sent to each other's country from the current 40 a year to some 500 beginning this year.

In a news conference after the signing of the accord, South Korea's Ambassador to Beijing, Kim Ha-joong, said he is confident that such an agreement would lead to deeper understanding between the youths of the two countries and stronger South Korea-China relations.