"If I were a young student in college, I would take a semester in China." This is the advice offered by renowned US economist Jeffrey Sachs in a recent interview with China Daily.

Why China? Sachs explained that his fascination lies in understanding how Chinese civilization has played such a profound and positive role globally.

His advice isn't just personal; it's a call to action for US students. "I would like Chinese universities to offer a semester abroad for American students," Sachs said.

Sachs is actively collaborating with Chinese universities to develop semester-long programs that would enable American students to study in China and earn credits toward their US degrees.

What can US students expect from this unique experience? Sachs said they will encounter the greatness of Chinese civilization, the dynamism of its economy, the cutting-edge technology found nowhere else, and a transportation landscape increasingly defined by the electric vehicles that are reshaping China's automobile fleet.

But the most important takeaway, according to Sachs, is the lifelong friendship formed through academic exchanges between young Americans and young Chinese.

"Those friendships will last a whole lifetime and be very, very enriching," he emphasized. "We need more of those students coming to visit China, and this is important."

Watch the full China Daily interview with Jeffrey Sachs to learn why he believes China should be American students' top choice for studying abroad.