Every year, China’s young people invent new ways to say who they are, romanticizing county-town nostalgia, cheering on grassroots city soccer leagues, and trading in-jokes only their generation gets. In January 2025, Americans arriving from TikTok got their first look at this world on Xiaohongshu, known as RedNote. In this 30-minute conversation, co-founder and president Miranda Qu explains what the platform sees in China’s Gen Z, what visitors discovered, and what it reveals about a changing society.
For decades, educational and cultural exchanges have played a vital role in building connections and fostering mutual understanding between China and the United States. In an increasingly complex world, the ability to listen, appreciate different perspectives, and engage across cultures has never been more important. How can educational institutions and philanthropic organizations work together to strengthen these connections and prepare the next generation for an interconnected world? Drawing on their experiences in education, philanthropy, and cross-cultural collaboration, panelists explore how meaningful dialogue, collaborative learning, and people-to-people exchanges can build trust, foster mutual understanding, and create new opportunities for China-U.S. cooperation.
Global companies arrive in China with established brands, operating models and expectations. The market often forces them to rethink all three. Leaders from global companies explore how Chinese consumers, market conditions and employees have shaped their businesses, what they have learned from getting localization right and wrong, and which lessons from China have influenced how they operate elsewhere.
Five thought leaders share their perspectives on the future of AI through 10-minute lightning talks. From creative industries and robotics to scientific research and business, each speaker explores what’s working, what challenges remain, and what’s coming next. The session concludes with a group discussion comparing insights and lessons across industries and markets.
Adele Lim co-wrote Crazy Rich Asians, the 2018 hit that showed Hollywood audiences wanted stories centered on Asian families, and Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon. In 2023, she made her directing debut with Joy Ride, a comedy about four Asian American friends on a trip through China. Born and raised in Malaysia, she has spent her career telling stories that move between Asia and America. In this 30-minute conversation, Lim talks about what it took to get these films made, what audiences on both sides of the Pacific responded to, and where Asian stories go next.
Few things connect people across borders like sports. What makes a fan in China feel close to a league, team, or athlete thousands of miles away? Sports and business leaders explore how global sports, from established leagues to fast-growing newcomers, build communities in China, adapt to local culture, and create ties between fans that last beyond the final whistle.
In the 1930s, Shanghai was the film capital of Asia. Today, stories still travel between Shanghai and Hollywood, and they shape how Americans and Chinese see one another. A director, a showrunner, and the executive who brought hundreds of American films to Chinese audiences talk about the stories that connected people, the stereotypes they set out to break, and why shared stories matter more when official ties are strained.
An evening celebrating bridge builders and leaders whose achievements span business, arts, culture, innovation, and public service. The gala brings together distinguished leaders, members, and guests to honor individuals whose contributions have strengthened communities, advanced cross-cultural understanding, and inspired future generations.