'With simultaneous interpretation, I heard each sentence twice, yet my smile always appeared a little later than everyone else's. But a late smile is still a smile," Wang Jibing wrote in a poem reflecting on his first trip to the United States during the first U.S.-China People's Dialogue in New York City, held from October 23 to 24, 2023.

At the event, Wang, a poet and food delivery rider from Kunshan, a city near Shanghai, engaged in a conversation with Finn Murphy, an American long-haul truck driver and author. Their discussion covered personal stories and everyday life, eventually expanding to the broader topic of China-U.S. relations. Wang's experience in the Big Apple last year highlights the idea that friendships between nations are ultimately built on the connections between people.

The U.S.-China People's Dialogue made its return this year, taking place in Beijing from November 20 to 23. Co-hosted by the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University and the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, themed Charting a Path Forward, the event gathered participants from a wide range of fields—including academia, business, social initiatives, sports and culture—from both countries. Attendees reaffirmed the importance of people-to-people exchanges as a very necessary bridge for deepening mutual understanding and as a pivotal foundation for fostering healthy, constructive future relations between China and the U.S.

Competition and conversation

Sports diplomacy between the People's Republic of China and the United States can be traced back to 1971, when a seemingly simple game of table tennis changed the course of bilateral relations. The invitation extended to the U.S. table tennis team to visit China symbolized the thawing of diplomatic frost, earning the label Ping-Pong Diplomacy. Said diplomacy came to represent how sports can transcend political barriers and pave the way for wider international cooperation. It also signaled a shift in global geopolitics, reflecting the common desire of involved parties to engage.

This tradition continues to strengthen the bonds of friendship today, particularly among younger generations. In January, the University of Virginia table tennis team's visit to China included both competition and conversation between American and Chinese youth, culminating in not just a contest of skill but a celebration of cross-cultural connection that revitalized Sino-U.S. relations.

Sports can overcome linguistic hurdles, fostering connections based on mutual respect and teamwork. In recent years, the scale and impact of these exchanges have grown, reflecting the growing importance of sports diplomacy between China and the U.S. Basketball, in particular, has emerged as a vital area of connection.

Yao Ming, a prominent figure in Chinese sports, was the first overall pick in the 2002 U.S. National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft and played center for the Houston Rockets in the state of Texas from 2002 to 2011. He earned widespread admiration in the U.S. for his skill and sportsmanship. Beyond his athletic achievements, Yao has become a symbol of cultural exchange. He promotes sports as a powerful means of fostering cross-cultural understanding, believing that athletic events are essential gateways to deeper international engagement.

During this year's Dialogue event, Yao, who also participated in the inaugural Dialogue, recounted his experiences in both China and the U.S., illustrating how different sports—from basketball to table tennis, and even e-sports—can serve as tools for building positive relationships between nations.

"People need something of mutual interest to bring them together," Yao said during the sports panel discussion. "We should try to create more opportunities for this—more games and more travel opportunities."

These interactions extend beyond the realm of professional athletes. For instance, in July 2023, NBA star Jimmy Butler traveled to Guizhou, a province in southwest China, to participate in a local basketball event known in China as the VBA, or Village Basketball Association. His involvement brought international attention to this event, merging the informal, community-driven spirit of rural sports with the prestige of a globally recognized athlete.

Similarly, at the 2024 Paris Olympic Summer Games, athletes from both nations exchanged more than just competition: They shared memorabilia, personal stories and gestures of goodwill, adding a personal dimension to the broader international interaction.

In Yao's view, healthy competition in sports embodies the true spirit of sportsmanship. Sports go beyond rivalry; they serve as a powerful platform and a shared passion for fostering cultural exchange between China and the U.S. "China-U.S.

relations are like those of neighbors," Yao stated at the Dialogue in Beijing, adding, "If you want to build a good relationship with a neighbor, there are many ways to do so. You just need to show friendship, express goodwill and identify mutual interests. I believe this will open up millions of opportunities to help us make progress."

Mutual learning

Education, much like sports, serves as a powerful platform for bridging divides between China and the U.S. The foundation of Sino-U.S. educational exchanges dates back several decades, flourishing particularly after the normalization of diplomatic relations in the late 1970s. During then Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping's visit to the U.S. in 1979, landmark agreements were signed, including the U.S.-China Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement. This agreement laid the groundwork for educational and academic partnerships, benefiting countless students and researchers.

These initiatives created a framework for collaborative research and facilitated the movement of thousands of Chinese and American students.

At the Dialogue, attendees engaged in discussions that emphasized the pivotal role of higher education exchanges in cultivating mutual understanding. The participation of scholars from both nations accentuated a shared commitment to learning from each other's cultural contexts.

Jeffrey Lehman, Vice Chancellor of New York University Shanghai, a collaborative institution established in 2012 by New York University and East China Normal University, highlighted the dynamic role of academic exchanges in boosting both individual intellectual growth and bilateral stability during the Dialogue event. He also emphasized that such exchanges help nurture empathetic, well-informed future leaders.

Lehman pointed out that even a short-term experience in China can spark a deep curiosity in American students, encouraging them to explore the country further. This, in turn, increases the likelihood that they will pursue long-term studies in China, immerse themselves in its culture, and form lasting friendships with Chinese people.

For example, in August, members of New York University's basketball team traveled to Shanghai to compete with students from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and participate in a brief cultural exchange. These American students, many of whom had never visited China before, all had positive feedback about their experiences, with many expressing a desire for future opportunities to extend their stay in China.

Lehman's conversation partner Yang Bin, Vice President of Tsinghua University, acknowledged that while educational exchanges between China and the United States have gradually resumed over the past two years, the scope and opportunities available to both students and educators still fall short of pre-pandemic levels.

He voiced his hopes that existing short-term exchange programs for American youth visiting China will continue and that, building on these initial exchanges, more Chinese and American students will have the chance to study and reside longer in each other's countries.

"I want to have more students study in each other's universities, not only earning degrees but also making lifelong friends," Yang said. He further underlined his desire for young people from the U.S. to visit China and experience the country firsthand, gaining a deeper understanding of the country through direct observations.

When touching on the challenges confronting China-U.S. educational exchanges, both Lehman and Yang acknowledged that the current situation is influenced by a range of factors, including geopolitical dynamics. They emphasized that for educational exchanges to recover, support from different levels, particularly from administrative authorities, will be essential.

(Print Edition Title: From Courts to Classrooms)

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon

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