From January 16–18, 2025, the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations (NCUSCR) led a delegation of 12 American China specialists to Beijing for the inaugural “Beida Forum.” Co-organized by the National Committee and the Institute for Global Cooperation and Understanding (iGCU) at Peking University, this three-day interdisciplinary program brought together “next-generation” U.S.-China experts and practitioners to explore the future of bilateral relations in the aftermath of the November 2024 U.S. presidential election.
The American delegation was led by NCUSCR Board Director Robert Daly, who also serves as director of the Kissinger Institute on China and the United States at the Wilson Center. The Chinese delegation was led by Professor Wang Dong, a faculty member in Peking University’s School of International Studies and Institute for Global Health and Development, as well as the Executive Director of iGCU.
The first day of the forum featured robust dialogue on the Peking University campus, fostering candid discussions between the delegations. Over the following two days, the American delegates participated in a series of external meetings across Beijing, engaging with government officials, policy leaders, private sector representatives, journalists, and other thought leaders.
This collaborative initiative underscored the importance of fostering mutual understanding and building connections between emerging leaders in the U.S. and China at a time of great uncertainty in the bilateral relationship.