美中全球议题对话项目

Visiting Beijing and Shanghai with the U.S.-China Student Dialogue has profoundly shaped my understanding of the future of the Sino-American partnership, instilling an awareness of each countries’ scope and nuance as well as a belief in the importance of people-to-people dialogue. The trip included talks with Chinese experts, U.S. experts on China, and partnership with students from Peking University. These three aspects of the trip informed my understanding of modern China, each bringing a highly specialized perspective.

We had the opportunity to attend talks with economic policy experts, an electric vehicle company, and a think tank, which enabled our group to gain a holistic understanding of the Chinese economy in many critical sectors. For me, the stand-out visit was at the Shanghai Institute of International Studies (SIIS), where we discussed how China’s 5,000 year history has shaped its perspective of global hegemonic power. One SIIS spokesperson explained that China’s perspective on foreign policy prioritizes international affairs as a tool to improve China’s development, arguing that China will not fill the “USAID void” because doing so would defy this goal..

U.S. experts on China, including diplomats at the Beijing embassy, explained the direct impacts of President Trump’s administration on the U.S.-China relationship, touching on economic and political factors. At the American Chamber of Commerce we discussed China’s economic model and how government deflation of the real estate market has slowed economic growth in recent years.

Chinese students from Peking University contributed their perspectives on China’s economy and position as a global power, identifying areas of pride and weakness. Many Chinese students see China as the most powerful country in the world, but they are also aware of the economic slowdown, and we discussed the Chinese job market at length in order to understand their prospects upon graduating from university. We also broached the topic of unequal gender practices in hiring, which opened the door to a more layered and personal discussion of gender expectations in the United States and China.

Lastly, this trip to China exposed me to new cuisines. I enjoyed experiencing how geography influences food across China. In Beijing, dishes were meat-forward and rice was not offered as a side dish. Peking duck is a particular specialty, and we enjoyed it at several restaurants. Xiaolongbao, or soup dumplings, were steamed and eaten with vinegar. In Shanghai, each meal included rice, and hairy crab is the regional specialty. Xiaolongbao were fried to a crisp, and caused (minor) explosions when bitten into. The food in both cities was absolutely incredible, and I found my new favorite food: Tanghulu. This candy-coated fruit stick is a delectable dessert and I literally dream about it.

Overall, the interpersonal connections we experienced demonstrated the importance of people-to-people dialogue, enabling high-level exchange of ideas and minute connections over shared experiences. I learned so much from the U.S.-China Student Dialogue, and I hope that this essential work continues.  

Elizabeth Rauenhorst (SFS‘25) is a senior at Georgetown University majoring in international politics and minoring in environment and sustainability