美中全球议题对话项目

请注意：中英文网站上发表的教日志均为英文。

Flying to China for the first time, I was admittedly a bit nervous about what to expect once I landed. However, even before our flight departed, a random passenger sitting next to me asked, “你有微信吗?” (“do you have WeChat?”) Realizing that I was confused, he explained that he assumed I was a student studying abroad in Beijing—probably because I looked nervous and sleep deprived—and wanted to help setup my WeChat and Alipay. This introduction was one of many amazing experiences I had during my trip to Beijing and Hong Kong with the U.S.-China Student Dialogue. 

Once everyone arrived at our hotel in Beijing, we met with students from Tsinghua University who gave us a tour around the Summer Palace. As we explored around, we soon found ourselves at China’s greatest cultural achievement—海底捞 (Haidilao). Trying 火锅 (hot pot) for the first time made me realize how much I was missing out on life. Afterward, while memorized by the dancing noodle man, we began sharing stories about ourselves and became comfortable sharing our opinions over more controversial topics. From Trump and Musk’s relationship to China’s widening financial and technological influence in the Global South, we were able to gain a glimpse into each other’s perspectives. At night, as we ventured throughout Beijing’s countless karaoke bars, while also attempting to do taichi near the Drum Towers, we were all preparing to climb the Great Wall the next day. Nearing the end of our time in Beijing, we finished off by touring the Forbidden City and presenting our group’s findings over peace and security topics at Tsinghua University’s campus, hosted by Tsinghua’s Center for International Security and Strategy. While we only spent a few days in Beijing getting to know our Tsinghua friends, whether it was their perspectives on global issues or their personal background, it was hard to leave so soon. 

Staying in Hong Kong was also an unforgettable experience. After taking countless photos of the red taxis in the city’s narrow roads, we rode our van towards Hong Kong University (HKU) where HKU and Georgetown students were assigned into groups. Our group was tasked with discussing the political and security implications regarding Hong Kong and the United States. After presenting and saying goodbye to an amazing group of friends, we began our tour around Hong Kong by visiting the American Chamber of Commerce, Goldman Sachs, and the South China Morning Post. All three of these trips gave our cohort valuable insight into different perspectives, such as media, economics, or diplomacy, when discussing current bilateral relations. Moreover, attempting to gain the full experience of Hong Kong within three days, some of us took the metro towards the Tian Tan Buddha site. Hidden behind the clouds and the surrounding forest, it was an amazing cultural spot to explore and learn about. Leaving the site, we later wandered through Hong Kong’s vibrant night markets enjoying various Hong Kong dishes. 

Overall, the U.S.-China Student Dialogue was truly incredible. I enjoyed spending time around Beijing and Hong Kong with Georgetown, Tsinghua, and HKU students, researching for our group presentations while also having fun learning about new cultures and perspectives. However, my most important takeaway from the dialogue is that diplomacy is always a possible avenue to pursue. While it may seem impossible or too troublesome, enjoying 火锅 teaches you that despite being on the other side of the world, we are all still human. Having the ability to sit down over a meal to get to know someone is, unfortunately, an underutilized and overlooked opportunity by the United States and China. It remains critical to build trust between both countries, and if our student cohort was able to befriend our counterparts in Beijing and Hong Kong, I believe it is possible for our governments to do so as well. 

Patrick Coggin (SFS ‘27) is a student at Georgetown University studying international politics.