On October 12, during the 2024 International Forum on Higher Education and the China-U.S. Higher Education Dialogue held in Beijing, Ou Junting, the Chief Representative at the University of Virginia’s China Office, emphasized the vital role of educational and cultural exchanges in fostering mutual understanding between the two nations. “These interactions are crucial in helping the U.S. and China recognize their cultural differences and explore shared values, thus serving as a key driver in restoring healthy and stable bilateral relations,” he stated.
Reflecting on the historical context, Ou mentioned that humanistic exchanges have been the lifeblood of U.S.-China relations, contributing to their ongoing stability and development. Over the past two decades, as a representative of U.S. universities in China, Ou has witnessed thousands of American students studying in China, with many continuing to pursue their education and life there.
“This kind of cultural exchange became possible thanks to a visit 45 years ago,” Ou noted. He referred to Deng Xiaoping’s visit to the U.S. in January 1979, during which he signed the Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation with then-President Jimmy Carter at the White House. This agreement, one of the first intergovernmental accords following the establishment of diplomatic relations, created a framework for collaboration among scientists, scholars, and students of both nations.
“Forty-five years ago, educational and cultural exchanges laid the groundwork for U.S.-China relations. Today, these exchanges play an even more significant role in stabilizing the relationship between our two great nations,” he added.
To encourage more American students to engage with China, Ou shared that the University of Virginia has introduced credit courses and facilitates exchanges through sports, further fostering mutual understanding. “This inspiration comes from the ‘ping-pong diplomacy’ initiated in 1971,” he explained.
In January 2024, coinciding with the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the University of Virginia’s table tennis delegation plans to retrace the route of the American table tennis team’s historic visit to China in 1971, an event that significantly contributed to the normalization of U.S.-China relations.
Ou highlighted the enthusiastic response from students during mixed-team friendly matches between Chinese and American university athletes, stating, “In this competition, both sides are winners.”
He acknowledged the challenges currently facing U.S.-China relations but reiterated the commitment of both governments to promote cultural exchanges of this nature.
During the same dialogue, Shiyi Gong, President of Westlake University and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, shared his insights. He underscored that educational cooperation is fundamental to the stability and development of U.S.-China relations, serving as an exemplary model of mutual engagement between the two peoples.
“Recently, against a backdrop of heightened competition from the U.S. towards China, interactions at various levels in higher education have diminished, hampering personnel movement and research collaboration,” Shiyi Gong pointed out. He urged both sides to address these conflicts and challenges with greater wisdom and closer communication.
“At its core, higher education is a forward-looking endeavor. Whether in talent cultivation or scientific research, it aims for a better and more sustainable future for humanity,” he asserted, adding that this principle also applies to both the U.S. and China. He emphasized that the future of U.S.-China relations largely relies on universities’ ability to nurture future leaders and foster technological advancements, highlighting the importance of engaging youth.
“China welcomes more American youth to observe the country through their own lenses,” Shiyi Gong said, advocating for both nations to take further actions to provide open, diverse, respectful, and inclusive educational environments. He believes this approach can transcend both campus and national boundaries, enabling young people from different backgrounds, languages, and cultures to engage in vibrant dialogues that ignite innovative ideas.
The 2024 International Forum on Higher Education was co-hosted by the China Association of Higher Education and Beijing Institute of Technology.
