U.S.-China Scholarly Exchange
Started amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic, the U.S. – China Scholarly Exchange is a first step toward resuming scholastic dialogue between the two countries after recent historic lows in travel and communication.
Started amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, the U.S.–China Scholarly Exchange Project encompasses our efforts to promote scholarly exchange and dialogue between the two countries, particularly in the wake of historic lows in travel and communication.
The first component is a series of exchanges between the program and partners in China. It began with an exchange of visits in 2022, in the midst of the pandemic, between Trustee Chair Scott Kennedy and Wang Jisi, Founding President of Peking University's Institute of International and Strategic Studies (IISS) and one of China’s leading authorities on U.S.-China relations. On the foundation of their visits, CSIS and IISS organized a pair of international conferences, with a dozen scholars from both countries, held in Beijing and Washington in the second half of 2023. The purpose of the meetings was to accelerate the resumption of in-person field research and scholarly exchange. This was done through their own travel as well as an agenda that addresses questions of travel limitations, field-work conditions, access to data, financing research, and publications. We are grateful to the Henry Luce Foundation for its generous support and for sharing our commitment to scholarly exchange and funding this stream of activity.
The other element of this project is a set of Track 2.0 dialogues between CSIS and counterparts in China, one on U.S.-China relations and foreign policy issues, and the other on science and technology issues. Both were started in the early period of the pandemic and are held throughout the year.
In addition to exchanges and dialogues, this project produces commentaries and reports, and holds public events on related topics.
Featured Analysis

Photo: Scott Kennedy/CSIS
U.S.-China Scholarly Recoupling: Advancing Mutual Understanding in an Era of Intense Rivalry
Report by Scott Kennedy — March 27, 2024
Events

Photo: Scott Kennedy
U.S.-China Scholarly Recoupling: The Path Forward

Photo: AFP/AFP via Getty Images
Enjoying Jet Lag: Resuming In-Person Travel and U.S.-China Relations

Recent Visitors to China: Takeaways & Next Steps

Photo: Scott Kennedy
Media Coverage 8 of 1039 results
Does Xi Have Trump’s Number?
Scott Kennedy published in Foreign Policy — June 16, 2025
For Trump, Resolving US-China Trade Fight Comes at a Cost
Scott Kennedy cited in Bloomberg — June 12, 2025
China, U.S. officials reach agreement for allowing rare earth, tech trade. Now it's up to Trump and Xi
Scott Kennedy cited in CNBC — June 11, 2025
In trade standoff with China, U.S. might have a losing hand
Scott Kennedy cited in The Washington Post — June 11, 2025
London talks are just the start of efforts to close U.S.-China trade divide
Scott Kennedy cited in The Washington Post — June 9, 2025
Xi’s Message to Trump: Rein In the Hawks Trying to Derail the Truce
Scott Kennedy cited in The New York Times — June 6, 2025
Trump and Xi Break the Silence With Phone Call
Scott Kennedy cited in Foreign Policy — June 5, 2025
Trump’s tariff tantrum risks a global depression
Scott Kennedy cited in The Hill — June 2, 2025
All U.S.-China Scholarly Exchange Content
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U.S.-China Scholarly Recoupling: The Path Forward
Event — March 28, 2024
U.S.-China Scholarly Recoupling: Advancing Mutual Understanding in an Era of Intense Rivalry
Report by Scott Kennedy — March 27, 2024
“U.S.-China Scholarly Recoupling: Advancing Mutual Understanding in an Era of Intense Rivalry ”: Audio Brief with Scott Kennedy
Podcast Episode by Scott Kennedy — March 27, 2024

Building a Path Forward: Peking University’s Yu Tiejun on U.S.-China Scholarly Recoupling
Podcast Episode by Scott Kennedy — March 27, 2024

Enjoying Jet Lag: Resuming In-Person Travel and U.S.-China Relations
Event — April 17, 2023
Breaking the Ice
Report by Scott Kennedy and Wang Jisi — April 7, 2023
Recent Visitors to China: Takeaways & Next Steps
Event — February 10, 2023
A Washingtonian in Beijing
Event — November 15, 2022
A Beijinger in Washington
Event — February 22, 2022