When students at Harvard University created the Harvard China Forum in 1997, they were riding an upswing in U.S.-China relations and aiming to promote understanding between China and the world.

That year China and the U.S. had their first state-to-state visit in years. And soon the two nations established permanent normal trade relations which would lead to China's ascension to the World Trade Organization in 2001.

Now, 25 years later, the relationship is arguably more fraught following the trade war, the COVID-19 pandemic, and increased international tensions and competition.

"The chief goal of the U.S. China relations now has to be to reduce the likelihood of conflict and even of violent conflict, even of war between the two countries," said Harvard Chinese History Professor Michael Szonyi at this year's welcome ceremony.

"We all must think about how the individual relationships that you will make here over this weekend and elsewhere can contribute... to better understanding and a better relationship between the two countries."

Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd speaking at the forum via Zoom also said he fears a possible war.

"I dream every day. It's not a Chinese dream, or a U.S. dream, or an Australian dream, It's a dream for the entire world," Rudd said in Chinese.

"What does the dream look like? It's that we avoid a war between two major powers, the United States and People’s Republic of China."

Rudd, who now serves as the President of the non-profit Asia Society, added that one only look to the situation in Ukraine if they think that war is not possible in the 21st Century.

He said that the two nations need to establish a joint a "managed strategic competition" relationship that realistically identifies the red lines each country has with the other -- such as Taiwan, the South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula and Cyber and Space, where a single incident could lead to crisis, escalation, conflict and war.

Establishing the red lines can prevent strategic surprise and reduce the chance of war, Rudd said.

"At present there are such no minimal strategies and principles guiding the two countries around these red lines," Rudd said. "Instead we push and we shove and we sometimes discover these red line by accident, and sometimes accidents can be catastrophic."

Outside of the red line issues, anything else can be non-lethal competition. China and the U.S. can continue to grow their militaries, expand their foreign policy influence, and continue to be strong economic competitors in trade, investment, technology and talent, Rudd said.

China and the U.S. can also continue their strategic collaboration in areas such as climate change, the next pandemic and the challenge of financial stability, he added.

Finally Rudd said both countries need to establish a small group of senior diplomats that act as the "day to day policemen" of the framework so that any breach can be quickly addressed.

CONFERENCE CHANGES DURING PANDEMIC

The annual student-run Harvard event was both hindered and expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2020, the conference was held entirely remote and included millions of views from around the world.

In 2021, the conference was held in China for the first time in Beijing.

Now back at Harvard in a hybrid online and in-person setting, more than 70 speakers addressed more than 1,000 attendees participants and partners - including CGTN America.

Specific panels brought together leaders in politics, business, academia, and entertainment to address international issues and China's future development.

In a panel on sustainability, CGTN America's Vice President Zhang Xin explained how the news organization created special projects highlighting the dangers of climate change.

"We sent crews to five continents. Our lenses have been focusing on the devastating wildfires, the deadly hurricanes and floods, the pandemic and the heartbreaking disappearance once of coral reefs all over the world," Zhang said.

"People lost homes properties and life and we want to use our lenses tell people that the most immediate and urgent crisis of our times is sustainability and development."

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