As U.S. and Chinese leaders prepared to meet in Washington D.C. this week, nearly 100 American college students from 10 universities concluded a transformative week-long exchange program in China, sharing their experiences in a letter to President Xi Jinping. On September 21, President Xi replied personally, encouraging young people from both countries to carry forward friendship and work toward a better shared future. The exchange, part of the Future Makers 2026 China-U.S. Youth Tour for a Shared Asia-Pacific Future, was organized by the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation and the Beijing NGO Network for International Exchanges. The program brought together 170 young people from China and the United States from September 1–7 for cultural exploration, dialogue, and technology visits across Jinan, Qufu, and Beijing. Participants hailed from American University, Central Michigan University, Columbia University, Harvard University, Kentucky State University, Saint Peter's University, the University of California Davis, the University of California Riverside, the University of Chicago, and the University of Washington.
For Long Beach and surrounding areas, this initiative underscores the importance of global engagement and the role of charitable foundations in fostering international understanding. The Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation, established in 2010 in memory of Sino Group founder Mr. Ng Teng Fong, fully funded the program for all American participants, enabling students from diverse backgrounds to experience China firsthand. The foundation focuses on education, healthcare, arts and culture, heritage conservation, emergency relief, and community services, and has donated more than RMB 2.4 billion to charitable causes across China, Singapore, and overseas. This investment in youth exchanges reflects a broader commitment to building lasting people-to-people ties between the two nations, which can have ripple effects on business, education, and cultural exchanges in regions like Long Beach that are hubs for international trade and diversity.
Students described the experience as eye-opening. Jackson Kreisner from American University said, "I can say, with firsthand experience, that American and Chinese youth are much more similar than we are different – we listen to the same music, eat the same food, feel the same emotions, share the same dreams." Ainsley Reigler from Central Michigan University added, "Being able to sit across from students from different universities and backgrounds and discuss our perspectives on the future of U.S.-China relations, global cooperation, and the role our generation can play in building bridges was an experience I could never have replicated in a classroom." Before the trip, many participants knew China primarily through headlines and social media, but they discovered what they called "the real China" — young people who share similar pressures and dreams.
The program included visits to cultural and technological sites, such as the birthplace of Confucius in Qufu, Tsinghua University, Beijing E-Town Robot World, the Beijing High-Level Autonomous Driving Demonstration Area, and the Xiaomi Auto Factory. A highlight was the establishment of the "Forest for Tomorrow" at Yanqi Lake, where American and Chinese youth planted white-bark pine trees together, symbolizing enduring friendship. Mr. Daryl Ng, Director of the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation and Chairman of Sino Group, said, "During the program, I had the opportunity to join the American participants on a visit to the Temple of Heaven and spend time speaking with them directly. I was deeply impressed by their curiosity about Chinese culture and their interest in the country's development. Inspired by President Xi's message, we will continue to support international youth exchanges and dialogue, and do our part to foster greater understanding, friendship, and people-to-people connections across borders. We will also leverage Hong Kong's unique role as a 'super-connector' to further strengthen exchanges between China and the rest of the world."
The initiative, publicized via Media OutReach Newswire, highlights the potential for such exchanges to bridge cultural divides and build networks that can benefit global business and diplomacy. As the U.S. and China navigate complex relations, programs like this offer a foundation for mutual respect and collaboration, with implications for industries reliant on cross-border cooperation, including trade, technology, and education.
