Events

Zhi-Xing China: U.S.-China Youth Leaders Dialogue--Tech-Powered, Tea-Infused, YES Youth Co-Craft a New Vision for Educational and Cultural Exchange

To further strengthen friendship and mutual understanding between Chinese and American youth, the Zhi-Xing China: U.S.-China Youth Leaders Dialogue, hosted by China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE), was successfully held in Beijing on June 29, 2025. Distinguished guests attending and addressing the event included Zhao Lei, Deputy Director-General, Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Fu Bo, Deputy Secretary-General of CEAIE, and David Zhang, Vice President, Head of Government Affairs, Visa Greater China. Nearly 100 young students from 30 renowned universities in both countries including the University of California, Berkeley, Cornell University, Stanford University, Peking University and Fudan University, participated in the event.

Zhao Lei noted that the Dialogue is a flagship program for carrying out President Xi Jinping’s initiative to invite 50,000 young Americans to China on exchange and study over the next five years. The dialogue provides a platform where technology and culture integrate, allowing young people from both countries to engage meaningfully. He urged Chinese and American youth to take an active role in promoting mutual cultural understanding and in fostering harmonious relations between civilizations, and encouraged participants to appreciate cultural differences, build bridges of communication, sustain intellectual dialogue, and contribute to global development by turning dialogue into action and addressing global challenges together.

Fu Bo remarked that it was especially meaningful for Chinese and American youth to gather at Lao She Teahouse, a place steeped in China’s tea culture, intangible cultural heritage, and entrepreneurial stories. She expressed the hope that, the young participants would have a deeper understanding of the beauty of China’s dynamic fusion of cutting-edge technology and millennia-old cultural traditions. CEAIE is committed to promoting exchanges among young people from China and abroad. As the primary coordinating entity of the Young Envoys Scholarship (YES) Program, it encourages Chinese and American youth to engage in in-depth exchanges to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation between the two countries.

David Zhang highlighted Visa’s enduring commitment to strengthening U.S.-China relations. He noted Visa’s active response to President Xi’s initiative to invite 50,000 young Americans to China on exchange and study over the next five years and the enthusiastic participation of many American youths in the YES program. Visa was very delighted that American students come to China and experience the country firsthand and stood ready to provide relevant support.

The dialogue featured two themes: How Technology Enhances the Quality of Life and My Story with Tea. Young people from both countries engaged in thought-provoking discussions through interactive dialogue, exploring how technology empowers better life and jointly addressing issues such as privacy protection in the digital age. They also shared their respective anecdotes about tea and offered interpretations of tea culture from diverse perspectives. Through these meaningful conversations, they strengthened their friendships, enhanced mutual understanding, and ignited their shared aspirations to take on the responsibilities of their time and build a brighter future together.

This event, as a significant step toward fulfilling President Xi’s initiative to invite 50,000 young Americans to China on exchange and study over the next five years, not only provided a platform for intellectual exchange between Chinese and American youth, but also demonstrated the resilience and vitality of people-to-people ties fueled by technology and culture.