This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Harvard College China Forum - a student-run conference that brings together some of the world’s most prominent thought leaders to discuss the challenges, trends, and issues affecting China. 

As you’d imagine there was plenty to discuss at this year’s event.“Extraordinary Times” was the aptly chosen theme for this year’s Harvard College China Forum.

The world is still struggling to emerge from a global pandemic… the conflict in Ukraine has sparked the greatest humanitarian crisis since World War II and there’s increased chatter about the potential for an economic recession.

Against that backdrop, hundreds gathered, both virtually and in-person, to hear from some of the world’s leading experts on how China and the U.S. can face the headwinds.This year’s forum coincides with the 50th anniversary of U.S. President Richard Nixon’s historic visit to China.

Director of the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies at Harvard University, Michael Szonyi, spoke with CGTN’s Xu Tao. Hear what he thinks about China’s period of opening and reform, and his optimism about what is next for China-U.S. relations.

Despite myriad disagreements, many at the forum believe those differences should not stand in the way of cooperation - particularly around combating climate change, fighting terrorism, and working toward world peace.

There were a dozen panel discussions held during the two-day event…including one on sustainability where participants discussed the role businesses play in sustainability.

One message that nearly all the speakers at this year’s Harvard China Forum stressed is the importance of dialogue - not just at the highest echelons of power, but at the grassroots level among American and Chinese students. 

They are the future leaders, politically, economically, and socially. Fostering understanding and respect could be the antidote needed to keep both sides from a disastrous outcome.

CGTN’s Toni Waterman spoke with William Kirby,  T.M. Chang Professor of China Studies and Spangler Family Professor of Business Administration at Harvard University about his thoughts on China’s rise in the sectors of AI and education.

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