Young people from China and the United States take a group photo during an event to commemorate the 55th anniversary of China-U.S. Ping-Pong Diplomacy in Beijing on April 10, 2026. ZHAO WENYU/CHINA NEWS SERVICE
Reflecting on over five decades of engagement between China and the United States, one notices that people-to-people exchanges have consistently acted as a stabilizing force, fostering mutual understanding, bringing hearts closer and facilitating progress across various domains.
During times when China-U.S. relations were marked by confrontation and a lack of political trust, people-to-people exchanges played an indispensable role in steering the relationship back on track. The best example is the Ping-Pong Diplomacy of 1971, which quickly shattered entrenched stereotypes on both sides, paving the way for a political thaw between the two nations. The subsequent normalization of relations and the establishment of diplomatic ties were inextricably linked to this civilian exchange. The story of how "the little ball moved the big ball" is a well-known chapter in the history of Sino-U.S. relations, marking a shift from hostility to cooperation.
Music, too, has played a part in improving people-to-people exchanges. As the first U.S. orchestra to visit China, the Philadelphia Orchestra set the stage for artistic exchanges with its 1973 performance. Over the next five decades, it returned 12 times, staging more than 100 concerts across the country. In October 2024, the orchestra performed at the National Center for the Performing Arts, captivating an audience of thousands and receiving waves of thunderous applause — a vivid testament to the strong public appetite for musical engagement.
Following the launch of reform and opening-up in the late 1970s, interactions between Chinese and U.S. professionals in fields such as history, sociology, economics, and law flourished. Exchanges of students and scholars became increasingly common. The descendants of Joseph Stilwell (1883-1946) — who served as a U.S. army general and provided great support to the Chinese people's resistance against Japanese aggression during World War II — embraced the legacy of collaboration, establishing the Stilwell Scholarship in the U.S. to support Chinese students studying there, further cementing the friendship forged during the World Anti-Fascist War.
Even when Sino-U.S. ties saw twists and turns and difficult adjustments because of political headwinds in the U.S. in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the desire for people-to-people engagement remained strong on both sides. The flow of students, scholars, and countless two-way personnel exchanges never lost momentum.
The touching story of "Kuliang" — a word repeatedly uttered by a U.S. citizen, Milton Gardner, on his deathbed — is indicative of his deepest nostalgia for Guling in East China's Fujian province, where he had spent an indelible decade of childhood in the 1900s. The enduring friendship embodied by "Kuliang" stands as a vivid testament to the amity and goodwill shared between the two peoples.
China has consistently believed that the foundation of friendly relations between the two countries "lies in the people" and that "the future lies in the youth". In 2023, China announced an initiative to invite 50,000 young U.S. students to China for exchange and study programs over a five-year period — a move that was warmly welcomed by both peoples and has injected strong momentum into youth exchanges.
Giant pandas epitomize the rich tapestry of Sino-U.S. people-to-people exchanges. Cooperation on giant panda conservation has made significant strides, and pandas at U.S. zoos such as the Smithsonian's National Zoo and the San Diego Zoo have served as a vital vehicle for shaping positive perceptions among younger generations.
However, some in the U.S. view China through a lens of geopolitical rivalry and ideological bias, calling for decoupling and hindering China's development. This distorted perception is poisoning the political and public discourse and undermining efforts to foster a positive relationship. Sustained people-to-people exchanges that offer people in the U.S. firsthand experiences of China can dispel misleading narratives and encourage adjustments in Washington's approach to engaging with Beijing.
Toward this goal, China has consistently facilitated travel for U.S. visitors, notably with the extension of the visa-free transit policy in recent years, which has led to an increase in U.S. tourists, whose firsthand experiences — such as travels through advanced infrastructure, the stability of a harmonious society, warm interactions with locals, and the country's rich geography and culture — are significantly reshaping their perceptions of China.
U.S. visitors are documenting and sharing their trips to China on social media, with some videos garnering hundreds of millions of views. This surge of interest is breaking down entrenched prejudices and stereotypes, helping to foster a more grounded and realistic view of China.
In March 2025, U.S. internet sensation IShowSpeed, who has more than 50 million followers on You-Tube, livestreamed his journey through China, highlighting its impressive infrastructure, technological advancements, public safety and the allure of traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts. Similarly, streamer Hasan Piker captured the rich texture of Chinese culture during his visit. A growing number of such moments is sparking a desire among U.S. people to visit China and prompting them to question the distorted portrayals of China peddled back home.
This trend is laying a solid foundation for a sustainable long-term relationship between the two countries. A 2025 poll by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace found that 68 percent of U.S. youth aged 18 to 29 believe China's strength is on par with or exceeds that of the U.S. Similarly, a survey by Renmin University of China revealed that 80.7 percent of U.S. youth feel they share "similar values and interests" with their Chinese peers. Pew Research Center data from April 2026, the latest, showed an increase in the U.S. public's favorable view toward China.
Both countries should continue to expand and deepen such people-to-people exchanges, tapping into their potential, encouraging broader social participation, and innovating new ways for people to connect. This will foster a strong public consensus that values cooperation and stability, laying a solid foundation for Sino-U.S. relations to grow steadily and go far.
