Associated Press

SEATTLE - Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, Seattle schools chief Susan Enfield, and U.S. Ambassador to China and former Gov. Gary Locke announced a partnership to send Seattle kids to study in China.

They said Seattle will participate in President Barack Obama's "100,000 Strong Initiative" to diversify and increase the number of students studying abroad in China.

A local nonprofit that sends low-income high school kids to study in China will lead the initiative. Seattle will be one of five U.S. cities participating.

Obama hopes the program will help prepare the next generation of China experts who will build political, economic and cultural ties between the two countries.