Fourth China-U.S. High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange

Education, specifically providing greater opportunity for American students to study in China and gain exposure to Chinese culture and language, has been arguably the most visible, if not strongest, pillar of the China-U.S. High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange (CPE). Since the inaugural meeting of CPE in 2010, CPE has implemented several such cultural-educational programming efforts. Notably among these has been sourcing funds to expand scholarships and programs for U.S. study abroad experience in China, allowing President Obama’s 100,000 Strong Initiative to gradually approach its goal of sending 100,000 U.S. students to study in China by the end of 2014.

The significance to U.S. youth of such exposure to China is perhaps best described by former Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Cambell: “Americans who answer the call to learn about China will reap rewards.” Increased exposure to China leads to increased bilateral business relations, aiding the expansion of U.S. exports to China, and generating more jobs.

The past year’s CPE working theme was “Youth and Innovation,” under which youth leadership exchange programming focused on technology and women’s issues.  This programming was carried out alongside visual and cultural arts cooperation between Chinese and U.S. cultural institutions, state/province-level educational administration best practices exchange, and Peace Corps-based volunteer exchange. It also included a Girls Tech Camp to foster innovation among female American and Chinese students in technology-related studies, museum-based cooperation exposing Chinese art to American youths, and growth in the network of Asia diaspora art scholars being cultivated at New York University. In light of the visible progress made under the “Youth and Innovation” theme, the Fourth CPE has decided to continue working under this theme into 2014.

The 100,000 Strong Initiative has been expanded via a $1 million grant from the Ford Foundation, creating an independent nonprofit 100,000 Strong Foundation, now housed at American University and tasked with continuing the Initiative’s work beyond 2014.  The new Foundation will serve to lead a national campaign to generate demand and support for study abroad programs in China.

The Fourth CPE and the large body of programming effectively connecting educational, cultural and business resources together across different specific themes offers instructive lessons for The Tai Initiative as we construct educational and business agenda items for the 2nd Annual Regional Conference on Subnational China-US Relations.

第四届中美人文交流高层磋商

2013年11月26日

教育，更为具体地提供了美国学生更多机会去到中国学习，并亲身接触中国的文化和语言，如果不是最强有力的后盾，已经可以说中美人文交流高层磋商交易所（ CPE ）是美中关系的主要支柱之一。自CPE在2010年的成立大会上以来， CPE已经实施了数个这样的文化教育项目工作。值得注意的是，在这个项目资金中会为留华美国学生提供更多奖学金和留学中国的体验活动，让奥巴马总统的100,000 Strong Initiative“十万人留学中国计划” 在2014年年底逐渐向派遣10万学生在中国学习的目标靠拢。

对美国青少年来说，这样接触到中国的重要意义正如前美国国务院负责东亚和太平洋事务的助理国务卿库尔特·坎贝尔说：“美国人谁了解到了中国会有相应的收获。”增加与中国的联系利于加强双边业务关系，协助美国扩大对中国的出口，并产生更多的就业机会。

过去一年CPE的工作核心是“青年与创新”，该青年领袖交流项目侧重于科技和妇女问题。这个项目将同中国和美国的文化机构，国家/省级教育行政机关进行最佳实践交流，和平队Peace Corps为基础的义工交换之间的视觉和文化艺术的合作。它还包括一个女孩科技夏令营，以促进美国女学生和中国学生在技术相关的研究，博物馆为基础的合作揭露中国艺术的美国青年，和增长的亚洲散居艺术学者正在培育在纽约大学的网络之中的创新。鉴于在“青年与创新”为主题做了明显的进展，第四届CPE已决定继续在这个主题下工作到2014年。

十万人留学中国计划已经通过了100万美元福特基金会的赠款扩大，建立一个独立的非盈利100,000坚实的基础，现在被安置在美国大学，并负责继续倡议的工作2014年之后。新基金将成为引领全国竞选产生需求，并为中国留学方案的支持。

第四届CPE和大体的项目有效地连接教育，文化和商业资源在一起，在不同的特定主题上为Tai Initiative，作为我们构建教育和商业议题的第二届中美地方关系年度区域会议，提供了宝贵的经验。