The 2017 China-Yale Youth Leaders Dialogue was successfully held in New Haven and Washington, the United States, from Nov. 27 to Dec. 7.

As a key program within the framework of the China-U.S. Social and Cultural Dialogue, it was jointly approved by the All-China Youth Federation (ACYF) and China's State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, and implemented by the China Youth Center for International Exchange. Members of the delegation, selected by ACYF, are promising leaders in their respective fields involving government, enterprise, youth organization, law and media.

This year witnessed the fifth term of the annual program. The Chinese delegates first spent one week at Yale University, meeting with senior faculty members and former important political figures to exchange ideas and share perspectives. The topics cover issues of common concern between the two large countries.

Many well-known American professors were invited to give lectures during the visit, through which the delegates had a better understanding of the cutting edge knowledge in environmental protection, finance, engineering and other fields, and thus broaden their horizons in interdisciplinary fields and globalization. Special lectures were also given concerning viewpoints of the current situation in China.

Pericles Lewis, professor of comparative literature at the Yale University, vice president for global strategy and deputy provost for international affairs, attended the conclusion ceremony of the program on Dec. 1.

During the rest of the trip, the delegates visited a number of government institutions and think tanks based in Washington. They held talks and discussions with leading officials and scholars from the U.S. Department of State, Albright Stonebridge Group, the U.S. China Business Council, International Monetary Fund, McLarty Associates, and the U.S.-China Policy Foundation. The two sides exchanged views on issues of common concern, including bilateral trade, intellectual property rights protection, and the reform of state-owned enterprises.

Chen Zong, president of the China Youth Center for International Exchange and head of the Chinese delegation, spoke highly of the American trip.

"Through the trip, I have become more aware of the importance of the China-U.S. relationship. We should further enhance the exchanges between young people of the two countries. We hope to see more 'experts on the United States' and 'experts on China' coming to the fore in large numbers. And that is the focus of our future work," Chen said.

Fawn Wang, assistant secretary of the Yale University and director for East Asia, believed that the Chinese delegation's visit is of profound significance.

Ms. Wang, who is in charge of the China-Yale Youth Leaders Dialogue, suggested a long-term dialogue mechanism be established in this field so as to deepen understanding between China and the United States through contacts between young leaders, scholars and elites from all walks of life.

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)