On December 9-10, 2021, the Institute for China-America Studies (ICAS) hosted its annual conference themed “Prospects for US-China Relations under the Biden Administration” with China Forum of the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) at Tsinghua University, The Carter Center, and the National Institute for South China Sea Studies.

WU Shicun, Chairman of the ICAS Advisory Board, and HONG Nong, ICAS Executive Director, delivered opening and closing remarks at the event respectively, which also featured keynote speakers including XU Xueyuan, Minister at the Chinese Embassy in the US, and Susan THORNTON, Senior Fellow at the Paul Tsai China Center at Yale Law School. The conference was structured in two panel discussions, which were attended by China Forum Experts DA Wei, CISS Director, ZHU Feng, Executive Dean of the School of International Relations at Nanjing University, and TENG Fei, Deputy Director of the Institute of Energy, Environment and Economy, Tsinghua University.

In his opening remarks, Professor Wu Shicun took stock of the history of China-US cooperation and shared his insights into the prospects for China-US coopetition and questions of principle concerning the bilateral cooperation.

In Panel I titled “US-China Strategic Rivalry in the Biden Era,” Professor Da Wei noted that “strategic competition” is an incomprehensive and inaccurate definition of the current China-US ties, and that more efforts are needed in the next three years towards a more stable bilateral relationship.

Professor Zhu Feng believes that the China-US strategic competition has only just begun, with multiple destabilizing factors ahead. Mutual respect must be the cornerstone of the bilateral engagement, for which domestic politics in the US should not constitute a factor of fragility.

In Panel II on “US-China Engagement on Trade, Tech and Climate,” Professor Teng Fei highlighted the need for climate cooperation between China and the US, who should continue to advance dialogue to achieve greater success in their exchange and cooperation.

Professor Hong Nong wrapped up the meeting by acknowledging the outcomes of the discussions and expressing her appreciation to the panelists for their input and contribution towards better mutual understanding between the two countries.