will.I.am For U.S.-Beijing Show

The State Department announced that will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas will direct and headline a concert featuring American and Chinese performers in China sometime later this year.

The concert is actually part of the U.S. administration’s program to reinforce cultural ties between the two countries, and the entertainer met with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton July 29.

In a written statement released by the State Dept., will.i.am said, “In order to become responsible global citizens, young people need to experience the world around them. Kids from underserved communities rarely have the opportunity to study and travel abroad, and we want to change that.”

The concert, which will take place in Beijing, is part of President Obama’s “100,000 Strong Initiative” and is being organized by the non-profit organization American Promoting Study Abroad, whose aim in this case is to increase the number of Americans studying in China.

The concert will raise funds to support study programs in China for American students.

It isn’t the first time will.i.am has been part of Obama’s plans. He had much to do with the “Yes We Can” video during the 2008 presidential campaign.