Los Angeles welcomed the 2025 U.S.-China People’s Dialogue this past Sunday, November 16, with a clear message: people-to-people exchanges are the bedrock of stable bilateral ties. Hosted by the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University and the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, the three-day event has brought together over 30 experts, scholars and practitioners from fields like higher education, AI, pop culture and social media.
Under the theme "Bridging the Cultural and Informational Divide," attendees have dived into panel talks, breakout sessions and field visits — even swapping stories over coffee with international students 🤝. This year marks the third edition, following New York in 2023 and Beijing in 2024.
Yang Bin, vice chair of Tsinghua University Council, explained that the new "group dialogue+" format aims to spark fresh ideas and deeper connections: from focused discussions on AI ethics to pop culture exchanges that resonate with youth across borders.
Stephen Orlins, president of the NCUSCR, stressed that while big-picture talks matter, it’s the human connections that truly strengthen the U.S.-China relationship. "People-to-people exchanges are the foundation," he said. "If we don’t improve the foundation, the structure is weak."
As the dialogue continues through November 18, participants are optimistic that these grassroots conversations will inspire real-world policies and projects — proof that when individuals connect, bridges are built faster than any summit can deliver 🌏✨.
Reference(s):
U.S.-China dialogue highlights role of people-to-people exchanges
cgtn.com
