More than 170 university students from 14 countries and regions will stay in Xi'an, the capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, for two weeks to share innovative ideas, boost friendship and form a consensus on social development services in the cultural and ideological communion.

The 171 students from China's Xi'an Jiaotong University and universities in Kazakhstan, the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore and the United States as well as Hong Kong will take part in a summer vacation project called Silk Road International Summer School 2015 launched by Xi'an Jiaotong University and Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

The project official kicked off on July 6 in Hong Kong and the students plan to stay in Hong Kong for a week and in Xi'an for two weeks, where they will have classes and cultural exchanges.

"Lectures on languages, arts, cultures and history classes will be held by the teachers from Xi'an Jiaotong University and Hong Kong Polytechnic University and students will also participate in activities to understand the local culture and history," said Chao Qiuling, deputy director of Xi'an Jiaotong University's office for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan affairs.

Chao said the project is part of the efforts by the university to promote international development strategy and hopes it will boost cultural exchanges among the universities and students in the countries along the ancient Silk Road and let the students take on responsibility for social development and help achieve common development goals.

The students taking part in the project can get academic credits from both Xi'an Jiaotong University and Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Miranda Taylor, a student from Otago Polytechnic, New Zealand, said the event is providing her a rare opportunity to understand Hong Kong, one of the world-renown international metropolis, and Xi'an, the ancient capital with rich historical and cultural heritage.

"I hope to take this opportunity to learn Chinese and understand China's history and its national spirit," said Taylor.