There have been some positive developments in bilateral exchanges of late in cultural and academic circles — and between local officials. But what are the obstacles that continue to plague people-to-people exchanges? What measures need to be taken by the two sides to further improve such exchanges? What changes will the U.S. election and transfer of power bring to such exchanges? Jia Qingguo, a Peking University professor and director of the Peking University Institute for Global Cooperation and Understanding, was interviewed by China-US Focus for answers.

Derek Grossman is a senior defense analyst at RAND focused on a range of national security policy and Indo-Pacific security issues. He closely tracks intensifying U.S.-China competition throughout the region, including Asia and Oceania. Grossman was interviewed recently by Wang Zhijin, a reporter for China-US Focus, at the recent Xiangshan Forum in Beijing.

Platform allows rarely heard voices — developing countries, which are often a silent majority — to share their perspectives, values and ideas relating to conflict resolution and the regional and global security establishment.

We need to learn how to respect differences and live harmoniously, because not all people or cultures are alike. It’s not healthy for the new Indo-Pacific concept — which works against open regionalism — to replace the traditional notion of the Asia-Pacific.

The region has maintained overall security and stability for more than 40 years, largely because of the strategic rationality and sobriety of governments in the neighborhood. Major powers that want to interfere should take note.

The Xiangshan forum presented an opportunity to allay fears attendant to China’s rise. More importantly, it also displayed Beijing’s poise to play ever greater security roles.

As China’s military role around the world undergoes transformation, respect for the People’s Liberation Army is well-placed as it enters the spotlight with confidence.

Beyond search-and-rescue cooperation and crisis management, creating hotlines between China and the 10 ASEAN countries would carry a no less important symbolism: the consensus that the South China Sea issue is not an issue between them as a whole.

The recently concluded Xiangshan Forum addressed the prospect of a New Asian Security Concept, suggesting that strong political leadership will be necessary for building a community of common interests.