A GROUP of Chinese students have arrived in Newport to take part in the first youth exchange of its kind in the UK.

The 16 youngsters will be hosted by 16 pupils from each of the secondary schools in Newport until the end of August.

One of the hosts, 16-year-old James Lyons, from St Joseph's High School, said he thought it would be an "absolutely fantastic experience".

He said: "About a year ago we were asked in school if we wanted to take part in the exchange, and we had to write a letter to our head teacher.

"Six of us were chosen for interviews with the head teacher, head of year and someone from the LEA, and I was chosen for the project."

The Chinese students flew in to Heathrow from the Guangxi Autonomous Region of China, on Tuesday, and attended an induction day at Newport YMCA yesterday. James said: "Their English is fantastic; it's so amazing the way we can communicate with them when they've come halfway across the world.

"It will definitely be a learning experience. I've been asking lots of questions and discussing different things with them. They've given us little presents which have meanings we've been asking them about."

James will be flying out to China in September to stay with his exchange student. "I'm extremely looking forward to it. I know very little Chinese and can just about say 'hello' and 'thank you'. I should know more by the end of the month, though." One of the Chinese students, Jo Zhang Ying Jie, said she was very happy to be in Newport and hoped to make friends.

She said she had enjoyed the team-building games they had played on the induction day and was looking forward to walking on top of the Transporter Bridge and visiting London.

Her fellow student, Lee Du, who has been learning English for seven years, added: "I'm interested to know about everything. I like Newport, it is a new world for me and a lot of things are different from China."

During the project the Chinese students will have a varied programme of visits, cultural experiences and intercultural learning activities.

*PICTURED: Chinese and Gwent students applaud the success of amakinh a bridge from spaghetti and pasta.