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Initiative for U.S.-China Dialogue on Global Issues

March 24, 2025

Georgetown Students Expand from Virtual Dialogue to In-person Exchanges in Beijing and Shanghai

During the 2024-2025 academic year, the Georgetown University Initiative for U.S.-China Dialogue on Global Issues brought 15 students from Georgetown together with 15 peers from Peking University for an extended dialogue about the future of U.S.-China relations. After four virtual meetings, the Georgetown students travelled to Beijing and Shanghai in March 2025 to continue the dialogue in-person and participate in a study tour.

Students visit the U.S. Embassy in Beijing
Students visit the U.S. Embassy in Beijing

Established in 2020, the U.S.-China Student Dialogue program is promotes communication and exchange between U.S. and Chinese students, identifying both challenges in the bilateral relationship and constructive ways forward. The 10-day visit to Beijing and Shanghai was organized with logistical support from the China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF).

From Virtual to In-Person Exchanges

The students’ first stop was at Peking University, where the cohort engaged in face-to-face exchanges after months of virtually interfacing with their Chinese peers. During the virtual dialogue sessions, students split into small groups focused on different policy areas in the U.S.-China relationship, including peace and security, business and trade, climate change, global governance, and people-to-people diplomacy. Gathering in their small groups in Beijing, students continued their discussions during student-led tours of Peking University, shared meals on and off campus, and collaborative discussion sessions.

Students working on their group projects at Peking University
Students working on their group projects at Peking University

The students presented their findings in a final workshop session, where each group proposed policy recommendations on pathways forward for a more constructive U.S.-China relationship. Sophia Ceriello (C’24, G’26) welcomed the opportunity for genuine exchange with the Chinese students:

​Walking through Peking University and meeting Chinese students right away made the experience feel more like a genuine exchange than just a study trip... I was struck by how, despite our different backgrounds, we shared a curiosity about each other’s perspectives.

Exploring China’s Political and Commercial Hubs: Beijing and Shanghai 

Departing from Peking University, the students visited the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and the National Development and Reform Commission, where they gained insights from officials and scholars on U.S.-China relations and China’s economic planning. The visits offered a valuable opportunity for the students to learn how each country’s government represents their respective policies and directly raise questions to representatives on both sides.

Outside the official briefings, the students engaged in excursions to Beijing’s cultural and historical landmarks, including the Forbidden City, National Museum of China, and Tiananmen Square. The students also had the opportunity to engage with expats living in China during social and networking receptions held at Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University and the Georgetown Alumni Club of Beijing.

The students’ final leg of the trip was in Shanghai, where students met with representatives from NIO, the American Chamber of Commerce, and the Shanghai Institute for International Studies to discuss innovation, trade, and regional dynamics in the Chinese system. Students further deepened their understanding of Shanghai’s cosmopolitan environment in their sprawling explorations of the city and site visits at the Yu Garden, Zhangjiang Robot Valley, and the Bund. For many students, the globally-oriented perspectives in Shanghai provided a tangible contrast to the more historically and policy-focused engagements in Beijing.

Establishing Connections 

The in-person trip was many of the students’ first time traveling to China, and many students developed a sense of connection and shared understanding that went beyond the high-level discussions of U.S.-China relations. For Kalyn Ouk (SFS ’26), the experience reinforced the impact people-to-people diplomacy can make.

​What began as cautious virtual exchanges has evolved into lasting friendships and deeper cross-cultural understanding. While significant differences in perspective remain at the geopolitical level, this journey has reinforced my belief that student diplomacy creates individual-level foundations for future cooperation, particularly when governmental relations are strained.

Read the students’ blogs to learn more about their experience with the program.

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