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

My experience being part of the U.S.-China Student Dialogue was transformative. Throughout the week, I was constantly exposed to new places, perspectives, and conversations. What made the experience especially meaningful was the opportunity to connect real-world observations in China with what I have been learning about Chinese language and culture for the past eight years.

Before the dialogue, whenever I heard terms like “culture shock,” I tended to dismiss them. I assumed that because I had studied China for years and had traveled to several places around the world, I would be prepared. In retrospect, that was misguided. What surprised me most about Beijing and Hong Kong was the sheer scale of society. I first felt this on the opening night of the program, while driving through Beijing after dark. Looking out at massive buildings stretching for kilometers, I began to understand the scale of Chinese development, ambition, and ingenuity in a way that no classroom description could fully capture.

The student dialogue itself was one of the most valuable parts of the trip. I had participated in foreign exchange programs before, and one common theme across those experiences is that students often come away with a general “feel-good” sense of cultural exchange and international dialogue. This program certainly had that element, but it also went further. The Chinese students were excited to meet us, eager to learn about American culture, and generous as hosts. That openness allowed us to discuss some of the most pressing policy issues facing the world today while still building genuine interpersonal understanding.

At Tsinghua University, my favorite moments were often the simplest ones. I enjoyed asking students about their home provinces, their hobbies, and the rhythm of their everyday lives in Beijing. The dialogue at the University of Hong Kong had a different character, but it was equally productive. Because the HKU student body was more international, with students from places including Europe and Taiwan, the conversations felt closer to a high-level policy discussion on a traditional college campus. In contrast, the Tsinghua conversations often felt more rooted in each side explaining and defending its country’s perspective. Experiencing both settings helped me better understand the range of views that exist within broader discussions of U.S.-China relations.

Outside of the formal dialogues, some of the most memorable moments came from simply walking through Beijing and Hong Kong. Exploring the hutongs in Beijing, taking in the layers of history around me, strolling through the night markets in Kowloon, and encountering products and customs I had never seen in the United States all shaped my understanding of the context behind Chinese society. It was also especially interesting to be in Beijing around the time of President Trump’s visit and President Putin’s visit to China. While touring the Temple of Heaven, our program directors explained that some of the cultural exhibits we saw had been prepared specifically for the Trump visit. That detail showed me how cultural and historical presentation can become part of international politics, especially at moments when bilateral relations are being carefully managed and publicly displayed.

Anton Khechoyan (SFS'28) is a student at Georgetown University studying science, technology, and international affairs with a minor in mathematics.