From November 16 to 19, 2025, the U.S.-China People's Dialogue 2025: Bridging Divides, Seeking Consensus was successfully held in Los Angeles, USA. The event was jointly organized by the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) at Tsinghua University and the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations (NCUSCR).
This dialogue marks the third annual U.S.-China People's Dialogue co-hosted by CISS and NCUSCR, following the New York Dialogue in October 2023 and the Beijing Dialogue in November 2024. The dialogue aims to enhance mutual understanding and trust between citizens of the two countries, explore solutions to challenges in bilateral exchanges, and foster a rational and healthy public opinion environment in both countries. Building on previous dialogues, the 2025 edition placed a greater emphasis on interactive workshops, including thematic seminars, group discussions, field visits, and student engagement, in order to create diverse perspectives, focused dialogue topics, and tangible outcomes. Around 30 participants from the education, business, technology, and cultural sectors of China and the U.S. attended.
On the afternoon of November 16, participants from both countries attended a press conference hosted by CISS. Key attendees included YANG Bin, Vice Chancellor of Tsinghua University Council; DA Wei, Director of CISS; renowned Chinese filmmaker Jiang Wen; Stephen Orlins, President of NCUSCR; and Robert Daly, former Director of the Kissinger Institute at the Wilson Center. The press conference was moderated by TIAN Wei, host of CGTN English Channel. Media representatives engaged the panelists on issues related to U.S.-China relations, particularly people-to-people exchanges.
At the welcome dinner on the evening of November 16, Stephen Orlins and DA Wei delivered opening remarks on behalf of the organizers. DA Wei expressed gratitude for the warm reception and the dedicated efforts of both Chinese and U.S. teams in preparing the dialogue. He likened U.S.-China relations to an airplane: old and constantly encountering problems, yet irreplaceable. The only right choice is to continually maintain and repair it, and hosting the U.S.-China People-to-People Dialogue embodies this persistent effort.
During the dinner, Chinese filmmaker Jiang Wen and U.S. China expert Robert Daly reunited, recalling their collaboration over thirty years ago on the television series Beijingers in New York. They discussed the current state of the film and cultural industries in both countries and explored the evolving curiosity and perceptions of each nation’s people. Additionally, Jesse Appel, founder of Jesse Teahouse and bilingual comedian, performed a stand-up comedy segment sharing his experiences developing his career in both China and the U.S., bringing laughter and insight to the attendees.
On November 17 and 18, participants engaged in intensive workshops at the historic and scenic Huntington Library. Discussions examined issues including higher education, artificial intelligence, popular culture, social media, economic trade, and the Chinese diaspora, assessing both divergence and convergence between the two countries in culture and information. Participants explored the political, economic, technological, and cultural drivers behind these changes and proposed concrete measures to promote bilateral cultural and people-to-people exchanges. The sessions were marked by honest and constructive dialogue, with participants demonstrating a shared commitment to advancing exchanges while addressing challenges and differences openly.
On the afternoon of November 18, participants toured the Chinese Garden at the Huntington Library, experiencing firsthand the potential and necessity for cultural exchange and mutual enrichment between China and the U.S. They also visited local cultural enterprises in Los Angeles, learning from successful adaptation and growth experiences in China’s market.
As President Xi Jinping has noted, the hope for U.S.-China relations lies with the people, the foundation is at the grassroots, vitality comes from local communities, and the future rests with the youth. Against the backdrop of the successful Xi-Trump summit in Busan, South Korea, the U.S.-China People-to-People Dialogue 2025 provided a platform for open and friendly exchanges among participants from diverse fields, injecting positive energy into the bilateral relationship. Attendees jointly emphasized that while differences exist, they should not hinder cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Both sides should continue to actively promote exchanges, providing a solid foundation for the healthy development of U.S.-China relations.