On January 15, USCET hosted a 13-member student delegation from Tsinghua University called the Sino-American International Communication Social Practice Team. The delegation’s visit aimed to foster cross-cultural dialogue and deepen mutual understanding between Chinese and American people. Their goals included exploring current U.S.-China relations, sharing perspectives on people-to-people communication, and examining the role of younger generations in contributing to future bilateral relations. For many in the delegation, this was their first visit to the United States, offering them an exciting opportunity to explore American culture and hear the concerns and motivations of American youths. The group brought diverse academic backgrounds, with students majoring in fields such as international relations, animation, philosophy, law, Japanese, and economics.
USCET Executive Director Rosie Levine warmly welcomed the delegation and provided an overview of USCET’s history and commitment to to promote U.S.-China relations and understanding through education and exchange for the next generation. She also introduced USCET’s “Students Finding Common Ground” Project, now in its second year, which encourages collaborative problem-solving to strengthen U.S.-China relations. USCET also had the honor to invite Richard Haddock, the Assistant Director of the Sigur Center for Asian Studies at the George Washington University, to share his insights on the role of public diplomacy in fostering cross-cultural communication and shared human needs.
The delegation engaged in a lively discussion with USCET and guest speakers about challenges and opportunities in the U.S.-China relations, including trade policies under Trump administration, education systems, and cultural exchange through social media platforms like TikTok and RedNotes. Students expressed a range of viewpoints, including optimism about increased people-to-people interactions and cultural exchanges as well as their concerns about political challenges impacting education and bilateral collaboration. USCET team and speakers drew on the diverse perspectives among Americans and encouraged student delegates to focus on human-level communication in understanding how Americans from different backgrounds may perceive China and the future U.S.-China relations.
The session concluded with a strong emphasis on the importance of people-to-people communication in bridging the gap between the U.S. and China and fostering mutual understanding among common people. Both students and speakers underscored the potential of educational exchanges and shared cultural experiences for shaping the U.S.-China relations. Towards the end of discussion, the delegation reflected optimism about the role of youth and scholars in shaping a more connected and collaborative future.
