Young diplomats discuss the future of U.S.-China relations

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On June 5-6, with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of People’s Republic China, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States of America, and U.S. State Department, the 13th U.S.-China Young Diplomats Dialogue (USCDD) was held at the University of California, San Diego.

Professor Wu Xinbo, director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University, and Peter Gries, director of the China Institute at the University of Manchester, UK, moderated the dialogue. The 21st Century China Center at the University of California, San Diego hosted the event.

During the 2-day event, young diplomats from the two countries, with 8 from the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. and the Chinese Consulates General in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles, and 7 from the U.S. Department of State, exchanged views on topics including “A Diplomat’s Role in U.S.-China Relations”, “Political Systems and Foreign Policymaking in the U.S. and China”, “Sources of Trust and Mistrust in U.S.-China Relations” and “Confidence Building and Other Measures to Improve U.S.-China Relations” in a positive idea-sharing environment.

In 2007, Professor Wu Xinbo from the Center for American Studies at Fudan University and Professor Peter Gries from the Institute for US-China Issues at the University of Oklahoma (now directing the China Institute at the University of Manchester) co-initiated USCDD with the purpose of generating mutual trust and improving U.S.-China relations.

USCDD is held annually in the two countries on a rotating basis. With support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of People’s Republic China, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States of America, U.S. State Department and U.S. Embassy in China, it serves as a vital platform for young diplomats from China and the U.S. to exchange ideas.