American high school students participate in the Open Day event of the Chinese Consulate General in Houston, Texas, the United States, on June 26, 2019. Twenty-five students from more than 10 high schools across the Greater Houston region visited the Chinese Consulate General in Houston on Wednesday, learning Chinese history and experiencing Chinese culture. (Xinhua/Gao Lu)

HOUSTON, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-five students from more than 10 high schools across the Greater Houston region visited the Chinese Consulate General in Houston on Wednesday, learning Chinese history and experiencing Chinese culture.

The students participated in the Open Day event of the Chinese Consulate General in Houston. Chinese diplomats from the consulate talked about the Chinese history, China-U.S. relations in the fields of trade, science and technology, as well as social and cultural dialogue.

Two scholars from Schiller Institute Houston office and Houston International Trade Development Council also shared their experience of recent visits to China with the students, followed by questions on Chinese politics and international affairs raised by the young fellows.

In the Open Day, students also had the chance to experience the real touch of Chinese culture, practicing Chinese calligraphy and tasting Chinese food.

Val Thompson, founder and president of the Houston International Trade Development Council, told Xinhua it is necessary for the future leaders to know about real China.

"I've gone to China back and forth for 17 years and I found it has been an open and receptive society," he said. "They need to know that China is a great place to visit."

The open day event is part of the 2019 Young Leaders Institute: U.S.-China Relations, which was organized by the Asia Society Texas Center in Houston, the fourth largest city in the United States.

Commenced on Monday, the week-long program intended to prepare Houston high school students for leadership in a globally interconnected city and world.

This is the third time that the Chinese Consulate General in Houston organizes its Open Day activity with the Asia Society, a non-profit organization that focuses on making the world know more about Asia.??