Nicholas Burns, Ambassador of the United States of America to the People's Republic of China, said in his opening address at the 2023 Hong Kong Forum on U.S-China Relations, “I can report to you this afternoon that the U.S.-China relationship is more stable, and there is certainly better communication between our governments. That wasn’t even the case just six months ago. That does not mean that the relationship is not competitive, because it still is. It does not mean we don't have major differences, because we still do across the board. But it does mean that we're better connected and better able to manage these differences between Washington and Beijing responsibly. In my world of diplomacy, that's progress.”

In this interview, Mel Gurtov, a professor at Portland State University, discusses his recent book, Engaging China: Rebuilding Sino-American relations, which he wrote to address the rising tensions between the United States and China.

Washington’s strategic priority should be establishing a more normal, positive relationship with China, accepting the fact that there are going to be differences of principles and values, says Mel Gurtov, a professor at Portland State University. He believes that if both countries can reprioritize, we will be able to have a more peaceful and secure world.

Reflecting on his experience in China as the U.S. Ambassador appointed by President Obama, Max Baucus shares his "three P's" approach—patience, positivity, and persistence—as keys to productive engagement. As the relationship experiences profound challenges, there is an increased need for more people-to-people exchanges, he says. Baucus speaks with James Chau of China-US Focus.

In this interview, Max Baucus, former U.S. senator and the U.S. Ambassador to China from 2014-2017, reflects on building trust both personally and diplomatically. He emphasizes honesty, constructive communication, and consistent effort as crucial elements in cultivating trust. He suggests that sustained collaboration is essential despite ups and downs, underlining the necessity to work towards trust even amidst geopolitical complexities.

During the IAS Conference on HIV Science held in Brisbane, our team had the opportunity to speak with Sharon Lewin. Currently serving as the Director of the Doherty Institute, she has also been newly appointed to the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations. While Professor Lewin primarily represents the biomedical research sector, her collaborations span a wide range of potential areas. In our discussion, she highlighted the "importance of scientific collaboration" and underscored the tangible value of "trusted, established partnerships." James Chau conducted the interview.

Joseph Vaughan, a Master's Student at Johns Hopkins University SAIS, explores the geopolitical importance of cobalt, as it relates to both the U.S., China, and beyond.

At one time, there were 16,000 American students in China. Today, there are just 350. Max Baucus brought the first college delegation to China since the pandemic and knows first-hand the importance of bringing people together. He speaks with James Chau—and says, "service" is the most noble endeavour.