On August 13, USCET hosted a 14-member student delegation from Tsinghua University called “Youth Voices,” led by Professors Da Wei and Liao Ying. The delegation was in the United States from August 4 to August 14, 2024, as part of a people-to-people exchange program. Their journey across the East Coast included stops in Boston, New Haven, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC, where they engaged with students, professionals, and scholars on US-China relations. The delegation sought to explore the questions: How do young people in the new era understand US-China relations, and how can they contribute to its future?
USCET facilitated a lively roundtable discussion around these questions. Executive Director Rosie Levine warmly welcomed the group and introduced all participating members. Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch, USCET’s founder and Executive Chair, opened up the dialogue by reflecting on USCET’s founding 25 years ago—to promote US-China relations and understanding through education and exchange for the next generation. The Ambassador provided an overview of the historical development of US-China relations since 1972, highlighting the shifting attitudes in recent years and emphasizing the growing importance of maintaining this relationship as the most consequential bilateral relationship in the 21st century.
The delegation was joined by American participants, including students and mentors from the “Students Finding Common Ground” project. George Washington University Professor Robert Sutter, a USCET Advisor, provided insights on the role of the US Congress in US-China policy, particularly in the context of the upcoming 2024 elections. Drawing on his extensive experience from his US government career and research, Sutter offered a candid analysis of Congress’s influence and the bipartisan support that has driven the hardening US stance toward China over the past six years. He also highlighted the differences between the Trump and Biden administrations in their approach to China, offering his view of the three main challenges in US-China relations: security, economy, and governance.
The session concluded with an open discussion. Both the Chinese and American sides shared insightful thoughts and comments about the state of bilateral relations and the role of exchange to provide opportunities for meaningful discussions. As the discussion drew to a close, the delegation reflected on their time in the US, sharing positive takeaways from their experience discussing sensitive or controversial topics in diverse and professional settings.
Student-led Review of the “Students Finding Common Ground” Project
Xinyue Hong, the Chinese team leader for the Economics group in the “Students Finding Common Ground” project, presented a project recap to the participants. See project details and presentation below.
Learn more about the project here.