Beijing international high school students competed in a Chinese speech contest on Tuesday to help celebrate the China-Pakistan Year of Friendly Exchanges.

Ten contestants, from Pakistan Embassy College Beijing and Beijing No. 55 High School, gave speeches to the brief "China Through My Eyes". Their nationalities included Russian, Pakistani and Venezuelan.

The speeches were focused on transport, culinary tradition and people's hospitality.

Liu Jianchao, assistant minister of Foreign Affairs, said at the event that China-Pakistan relations have strengthened in recent years, with cultural exchanges deepened.

He said the enthusiasm displayed by Pakistani people, especially the young, in learning Chinese would "open new windows into another culture".

The event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing.

Chinese and Pakistani leaders agreed in February 2014 to organize the China-Pakistan Year of Friendly Exchanges to promote cultural exchange. They are scheduled to hold numerous events throughout the year.