Cultural and artistic exchanges

Welcome to the "Cultural and Artistic Exchange" section. Every story, every image, every glance here is a record of the years we've shared. May we continue to join hands, in this endless cultural dialogue, to hear each other and see the world.

Excerpted from "Xi Jinping's Diplomatic Thought and China's Diplomacy in the New Era" (website):

Building Bridges of Understanding Through Dance: The China-US Youth Cultural Exchange Dialogue Held at Jiangsu University

2026.06.16


On June 12, the "China-US Youth People-to-People Exchange Dialogue," guided by the Center for International People-to-People Exchanges of the Ministry of Education and the Jiangsu Provincial Association for Promoting Friendship and Exchanges with Foreign Countries, and hosted by Jiangsu University, was held at Jiangsu University. Mark Keith, a tenured professor from Brigham Young University, and 34 members of the Utah Youth Dance Troupe, along with faculty and student representatives from Jiangsu University, engaged in in-depth discussions on the theme "Two Ends of the Bridge: From Pearl S. Buck's Cross-Cultural Writing to the Commonalities and Interconnections of Contemporary Chinese and American Youth."


Shao Weiming, Executive Vice President of Jiangsu Provincial Association for Promoting Friendship and Exchange with Foreign Countries; Li Hongbo, Secretary of the Party Committee of Jiangsu University; Zhang Hanshuang, Deputy Director of the Development Planning Division of the Center for International People-to-People Exchanges of the Ministry of Education; Zheng Xing, Third-Level Researcher of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges of Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education; and Wang Yongxin, Chairman of Zhenjiang Overseas Chinese Federation, attended the event.


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Report on the 2026 Utah Youth Dance Troupe's Exchange Performance in China



Excerpted from the Youth Daily:When the ancient charm of Dunhuang dance meets trendy hip-hop

2026.06.10

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This gathering marks the culmination of nine years of cultural cooperation between the two parties. At the welcoming ceremony, the president of the US-China Cultural and Artistic Exchange Association, a national-level talent of the Ministry of Education, was present.Dong RongcanThey expressed full support for the school's vision of deepening long-term cooperation and proposed expanding diverse exchange formats in the future, including teacher and student exchanges, art workshops, online courses, and youth art festivals, so that the seeds of friendship can take root and sprout in the hearts of young people from both countries. Jing Ying, President of the Shanghai Association for the Promotion of International Exchanges of Social Organizations, quoted the saying "The key to good relations between countries lies in the affinity between their people, and the key to affinity between people lies in mutual understanding," in her speech. She stated that face-to-face cultural exchanges are an important bond for enhancing friendship, and hoped that young people from both countries would connect through dance, learn from each other, and serve as ambassadors of friendship between China and other countries. The Association will also continue to build platforms for people-to-people exchanges, creating more opportunities for young people from China and other countries to get to know and interact.

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From Pearl S. Buck to Edgar Snow: A Lecture by President Dong Rongcan on the Historical Narrative and Contemporary Practice of Sino-US Cultural Exchange

Jingwen Lecture Hall, Lecture 293

On May 20, 2026, the 293rd lecture of the Jingwen Lecture Series, hosted by Jingwen College of Soochow University, will be held. Mr. Dong Rongcan, President of the US-China Cultural and Artistic Exchange Association, a national-level talent, and a chair scholar of Jiangsu University, has been invited to give a lecture entitled "From Pearl S. Buck to Edgar Snow: Historical Narratives and Contemporary Practices of Sino-US Cultural Exchange".

President Dong Rongcan graduated from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 1981, where he studied under Professor Chen Gang, one of the composers of the renowned violin concerto "The Butterfly Lovers." In 1992, he successfully held a solo concert at Carnegie Hall in New York. He is an important figure active in the cultural and artistic fields of both China and the United States. As the leader of the US-China Cultural and Artistic Exchange Association, President Dong has long been committed to promoting artistic dialogue and cultural understanding between the two countries.

This lecture will use Pearl Buck and Edgar Snow, two cultural envoys who bridged East and West, as a thread to trace the historical development of Sino-US cultural exchanges, and, in conjunction with contemporary practices, explore how to continue writing a new chapter of exchanges based on mutual respect and mutual inspiration in the new era.


President Xi Jinping put forward the important initiative of "inviting 50,000 American teenagers to China for exchange and study over five years".

Excerpt from CCTV NewsWang Yi briefed the media on the meeting between the Chinese and US heads of state and the consensus reached."

2026.05.15


IV. How can the meeting promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries?


Wang Yi: President Xi Jinping once pointed out that the hope for China-US relations lies in the people, the foundation lies in the grassroots, the future lies in the youth, and the vitality lies in local areas. During this meeting, both heads of state mentioned the importance of promoting people-to-people exchanges. President Xi Jinping specifically mentioned stories of people-to-people exchanges, pointing out that 55 years ago, China and the US engaged in "Ping-Pong Diplomacy," which opened the door to a more than 20-year-long freeze in Sino-US relations, becoming a major event in the history of contemporary international relations. President Trump also reviewed the history of exchanges between the two peoples, stating that the American and Chinese people appreciate and respect each other, and their friendship has a long history.


After China-US relations entered a new stage, President Xi Jinping proposed "Inviting 50,000 American teenagers to China for exchange and study over 5 years"This important initiative has received enthusiastic responses and active participation from all sectors of both countries. President Xi Jinping welcomes more American teenagers to visit and study in China. President Trump has also repeatedly expressed his welcome to Chinese students studying in the United States. This two-way exchange will broaden the horizons of young people and better shape the future of China-US relations."

A letter from American teenagers to Chinese President Xi Jinping

2026.05.13


This marks the fifth time the US-China Cultural and Arts Exchange Association has organized a youth dance troupe from Utah to visit China. The journey has spanned nine years since 2017. The students who signed the letter come from various elementary, middle, high school, and university levels in Utah, demonstrating the active participation of American youth in US-China cultural exchange and people-to-people friendship. During US President Trump's visit to China, we presented this letter to General Secretary Xi Jinping, expressing our hope that US-China friendship will be spread through the younger generation.

To see more reports on past US-China cultural and artistic exchange activities, please click the following link:

List of Services

"The Bridge": The Heartfelt Words of Professor Dong Rongcan, a Chinese-American

Zhenjiang: "A Century of Practical Achievements Showcasing Splendor"—"Dance of the Rivers"

Hosting an international piano competition and a trip for Chinese children to the United States

Leading the Utah Youth Dance Troupe on a visit to China