Symposium on China-US relations held in Washington, D.C.

A symposium on China-U.S. relations was held in Washington, D.C., on Friday, bringing together over 80 experts from Chinese and American think tanks, universities, and other research institutes.

Li Yafang, deputy editor-in-chief of China International Communications Group (CICG) and president of the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies, speaks at a symposium on China-U.S. relations in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2026. [Photo/CICG]

Li Yafang, deputy editor-in-chief of China International Communications Group (CICG) and president of the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies (ACCWS), addressed the event. She said that China-U.S. relations are at an important period of historic opportunity, in which think tanks should make significant contributions to the steady development of bilateral ties by acting as creators of a sound atmosphere, explorers of pathways, and managers of differences. She called for think tanks to build mutual trust and reduce miscalculations, thereby translating cooperation opportunities into tangible results.

Li also noted that China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), which emphasizes high-quality development and high-standard opening up, offers new prospects for China-U.S. cooperation, and think tanks from both sides should help foster an objective understanding of each other's intentions and identify mutually beneficial opportunities in the context of China's new opening-up policies.

Christopher Hobbs, deputy director of peace strategy and operations at The Carter Center, speaks at a symposium on China-U.S. relations in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2026. [Photo/CICG]

Christopher Hobbs, deputy director of peace strategy and operations at The Carter Center, said the key challenge facing the two sides as China-U.S. relations are undergoing a profound structural shift is how to wisely manage competition and prevent conflict escalation. He called on both sides to actively seek common interests and reserve room for necessary global coordination despite frictions in trade, technology, and security. He pointed out that long-term think tank cooperation plays an irreplaceable role in sustaining the resilience of bilateral relations.

Hong Nong, executive director of the Institute for China-America Studies, speaks at a symposium on China-U.S. relations in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2026. [Photo/CICG]

Hong Nong, executive director of the Institute for China-America Studies, stressed the urgency and importance of face-to-face dialogues amid complex and volatile international landscape. Hong called on think tanks to serve as a communication bridge, identifying cooperation opportunities in this period of strategic adjustment and exploring feasible pathways for the steady development of bilateral ties through candid and practical discussions.

Experts from Chinese and U.S. think tanks, universities, and other research institutes attend a symposium on China-U.S. relations in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2026. [Photo/CICG]

Experts at the event agreed that as the world's two largest economies, China and the U.S. have a major global impact through the stability and coordination of their macroeconomic policies. They called on both sides to acknowledge differences in development models, structural challenges, and technology restrictions, and to define security red lines through sustained high-level communication to prevent a loss of control caused by misinterpretations and miscalculations.

Experts suggested that China and the U.S. seek common ground on global issues such as climate change and AI governance, and jointly rebuild resilience in bilateral economic ties by enhancing policy transparency and practical cooperation.

Experts also took questions on topics such as the 15th Five-Year Plan and the trend of China-U.S. relations raised by journalists from major Chinese and American media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Xinhua News Agency, and Shanghai Media Group.

The symposium, a key initiative of the ACCWS under CICG, aims to facilitate in-depth exchanges, enhance mutual trust and understanding between Chinese and American experts and scholars, interpret the 15th Five-Year Plan, and promote innovative dialogues between top think tanks of the two countries.