Black Eyed Peas frontman will.I.am is doing his part to contribute to United States-China relations as he travels to Beijing this week for a concert designed to further the two countries' cultural diplomacy.

The seven-time Grammy Award winner is one of dozens of Chinese and American artists who will share the spotlight at the Booey Lehoo arts festival, who's name has been transliterated from a Confucian saying in Mandarin meaning to welcome into one's home.

Part of the 100,000 Strong Initiative launched by Hillary Clinton last year, the event kicks off on Friday with a 16x16 tipoff basketball tournament where 16 underprivileged high schools students from the US will mix and match with 16 Chinese students. The event is part of continued efforts by both countries to open up dialogue through arts exchanges.

"By playing side by side, rather than against each other, you're encouraging them to work together, to show teamwork," said Kevin Meenan, who's coordinating the basketball tournament.

The matches will be followed by a week of unique performances ranging from traditional Chinese dance to Chicago-style improv comedy that integrates both US and Chinese approaches to the arts.

"Almost all of the events include Chinese and American artists performing together. The goal is to highlight the benefits of artistic collaboration as a sort of guide to show what's possible," said Ted Dean, co-founder of Americans Promoting Study Abroad (APSA), which organized the event with the support of the US Embassy.

The dialogue and concert is designed to raise money to support APSA in funding study abroad programs for underprivileged American students.

The week will conclude with a concert by Black Eyed Peas members will.i.am and apl.de.ap, John Legend, and Chinese pop stars Shunza and Sa Dingding at the National Stadium on Dec 17.

Dean said they're expecting to fill the 11,000 seats at the stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest.

The festival is the largest effort so far in the 100,000 Strong Initiative, which aims at increasing the diversity and number of US students studying in China.

"American and Chinese students, volunteers, teachers and interns from a diverse range of backgrounds have come together in growing numbers in academic, professional and social settings to form friendships, exchange ideas and learn from each other," said US Embassy spokesman Richard Buangan.

This exchange is one of dozens that have taken place between US and Chinese artists in the past few months.

In November, the US-China on the Arts and Culture forum brought together high-profile figures such as Yo-Yo Ma and Meryl Streep in Beijing for a series of dialogues with Chinese counterparts aimed at finding out what make artists tick.

Buangan said opening dialogues beyond politics is vital for US and China to gain a better understanding of each other.

"Americans who understand how to engage constructively with China are essential to the US public, private, and non-profit sectors and fostering positive relations with China," Buangan said.

"This is the spirit behind US-China exchanges and the 100,000 Strong Initiative: making lifelong friendships that broaden minds and expand horizons," he said.