Focus This Week: Davos in Tianjin - June 30, 2023

June 30, 2023

Focus This Week

A community space to discuss the China-U.S. relationship and beyond.

Dear Focus Readers,

I'm just back to Hong Kong from the World Economic Forum in Tianjin where China's Premier Li Qiang called on international entrepreneurs to drive economic globalization and steer humanity to a sustainable future.

With populism and protectionism both on the rise, there was a strong feeling among the delegates that technology is the hope of the future, despite persistent concerns around the use of artificial intelligence and other emerging innovations. But I believe the answer is still rooted in people. An improved relationship between American and Chinese leaders and people would help us find solutions to climate change, debt risks, slowing growth, growing inequality, and ultimately, lasting peace.

As I discussed in an op-ed this week for the South China Morning Post, increased educational and people-to-people exchanges between Chinese and U.S. citizens would further help broaden communication and generate trust between our nations.

Trust-building is the epicenter of our work at the China-United States Exchange Foundation—and if I have one takeaway from this year's Summer Davos, it is that the global potential will never be realized until these two countries believe in each other.

James Chau
President, China-United States Exchange Foundation

Focus Insights

How can China and the U.S. maintain bilateral goodwill?

James Chau, President of the China-US Exchange Foundation, discusses what Beijing and Washington must do to keep "goodwill" on track, which includes more educational exchanges and people-to-people interactions.

What purpose does dialogue serve in the China-U.S. relationship?

Brian Wong, a DPhil in Politics candidate and Rhodes Scholar at Balliol College, Oxford, discusses the significance of communication between Washington and Beijing, and the platform recent summits have provided for dialogue to occur.

What are the impacts of China's economic challenges?

James Nolt, an adjunct professor at New York University, examines the challenges China's economy is facing and their potential implications on the global economy.

What's the future of India-U.S. relations?

Ma Jiali, the director of the China Reform Forum, takes a look at India-U.S. relations and their impact on the Asia- and Indo- Pacific regions.

Quote of the Week

"Preventing war, or even escalating unintended conflicts, will be the foremost test for bilateral ties in the years to come."

Zhao Minghao

Professor, Institute of International Studies, Fudan University

Notable Number

The number of countries that participated in 2023 Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo, including China and the U.S. Read more from Richard Heydarian.

Beyond Our Shores

We're excited to highlight "China and Eurasian powers in a Multipolar World Order 2.0," a collaborative effort by several global scholars and edited by Mher Sahakyan, the Founder and Director of the China-Eurasia Council for Political and Strategic Research. This book critically examines the transformation of the world order into a Multipolar World Order 2.0, citing the war in Ukraine as evidence, and explores the cooperation and competition among major powers including China, U.S., Russia, EU, India, and others in areas of security, diplomacy, economy, and cyberspace.

Discover More

A look into cultural stories from our affiliate platform, The China Current.

My Story | Tasmin Little

Watch Video

Renowned concert violinist Tasmin Little, who joined The China Current in 2022 as a Culture Contributor, was recently recognized in King Charles's inaugural Birthday Honors for her exceptional contribution to classical music. With a career spanning three decades, Tasmin has established herself as one of the world's leading musicians, and now she brings her expertise and passion to our platform. As China Current's Culture Contributor, she immerses herself in the vibrant realm of Chinese music, instruments, and more, exploring the ideas, traditions, and lifestyles that shape the lives of 1.4 billion people today. In this episode, Tasmin reflects on her own journey and its profound connection to the captivating videos she creates.

Comment from our Community

"Mutual receptiveness to each other's concerns and interests is imperative for both China and the U.S. This necessitates the deliberate abandonment of preconceived notions and biases, fostering an environment conducive to considering the potential legitimacy of the opposing party's concerns."

Matt Weaver, CEO & Founder of Vital Pacific and the Artisan Workshop

Read Matt's full response to Stephen Roach's "A New Architecture for U.S.-China Engagement" here.

Interested in submitting an op-ed to China-US Focus? Contact
useditor@chinausfocus.com for more info.

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About Focus This Week

Prepared by China-US Focus editorial teams in Hong Kong and New York, this weekly newsletter offers you snap shots of latest trends and developments emerging from China and the U.S. every week. It is a community space to exchange thoughts and ideas about the China-U.S. relationship and beyond.

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