BEIJING, April 4 -- China and France have launched an exchange scheme under which 1,000 young people in China can apply for internships in enterprises in France.

Under an agreement reached by the two countries in November, Chinese enterprises will also accept 1,000 French interns for up to six months, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

The program is open to Chinese students with three years of higher education, or those who have held a diploma for under a year.

This is the first intern exchange between China and France, the ministry said.