On May 11-12, 2021, China Institute of International Studies held the 17th China-U.S. Young Leaders' Dialogue virtually. The theme of the meeting is "Wisdom and Courage --- How to Promote the Constructive Development of China-U.S. Relations". President Xu Bu delivered opening remarks for the meeting. Executive Vice President Ruan Zongze participated and delivered concluding remarks.
President Xu Bu pointed out that this year’s dialogue takes place against the backdrop of a most challenging period since the establishment of China-U.S. relations. The U.S. is increasingly worried about China's rapid development, describing China as "the most serious competitor." But in fact, China has no intention for competition. Moreover, China and the U.S. are highly interdependent. They are important trading partners to each other. And there are a lot of people-to-people exchanges between them. Competition and confrontation are neither in the interest of the two countries, nor in the interest of the Asia-Pacific countries, and furthermore not in line with the expectation of the world. The two countries should strengthen communication, build mutual trust, and avoid confrontation. He expected that young people in particular should strengthen dialogue to better understand each other, and shoulder their responsibilities for world peace, development and stability.
Participating in the Dialogue are young scholars from China Institute of International Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, Renmin University and Fudan University on the Chinese side as well as the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, Center for Naval Analysis, Chicago Council on Global Affairs, National Defense University, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, University of Southern California, and University of Notre Dame on the U.S. side. Participants exchanged ideas on topics of historical inspirations from China-U.S. relations, U.S. strategy toward China, China’s Strategy toward the U.S, and outlook of bilateral relations. They also shed new input on what China and the U.S. can do to focus on cooperation, manage differences, and develop communications.
The China-U.S. Young Leaders' Dialogue Project was initiated by CIIS in 2011, and has invited over a hundred participants from the two countries. The project has grown into an important platform of dialogue between young scholars and has gained a sound influence in the two countries’ academic circles.