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

Participating in the U.S.-China Student-to-Student Dialogue contributed to building a bilateral understanding of the concept of global development, the intricacies of the Global Development Index, and how China and the United States could and should work together to accomplish development goals as global leaders. While our discussions highlighted the difference between the U.S. and Chinese approaches to international development and foreign aid, they also reinforced our similarities. We need to accept greater responsibility in addressing the development needs of other countries as collective leaders and working together.

The assigned readings were focused and contributed to understanding the three theme topics: Sustainability Goals and Poverty Alleviation, China’s Development Initiative and Clean Energy, and the U.S. Approach to Development and the Challenges of Natural Disasters. The UN-issued Sustainable Development Goals and readings on U.S. and Chinese development initiatives were neutral and unbiased towards one nation or the other. They served as a primer on the themes, and I will refer to these in further coursework.

I found the opinions and conversations between Georgetown University and Peking University students open, constructive, and respectful, even when debating. Participants gave their views and weren’t afraid to disagree when faced with opposing or controversial statements. Throughout the three sessions, participants became both more comfortable. The conversations flowed better as there was familiarity among participants in the break-out sessions. Unexpectedly, some Peking University students were from other Asian countries, such as Singapore and Thailand. It was interesting to learn about the perspectives these students held and how they viewed the American and Chinese initiatives in contrast to the approaches taken by their home countries. These weren’t perspectives I had expected to hear, but they made the conversation richer and more interesting.

While all development topics were not discussed equally, an overwhelming emphasis was placed on how both nations needed to show leadership and work together. Despite recent increased tensions between the United States and China, future leaders must work together to build understanding and relationships.

Given the pandemic, which impacted most international student exchange programs, opportunities such as the U.S.-China Student-to-Student Dialogue provide much-needed bilateral interactions among peers from different countries and universities. In addition, I hope some of us may contribute to our respective countries' development initiatives once we complete our education.

Miles McInerney (SFS‘25) is a sophomore in the School of Foreign Service majoring in regional and comparative studies and minoring in Chinese.