Globalization was key focus at inaugural China-Yale Youth Leaders Dialogue

Rising young Chinese leaders came to Yale recently for some open and in-person dialogue about critical global issues, institutions, and practices.

The inaugural China-Yale Youth Leaders Dialogue was presented by All-China Youth Federation (ACYF) and Yale. The program builds upon Yale’s tradition of educating leaders and public servants for all sectors of society in the U.S. and around the world.

The 15 members from the ACYF who came to Yale are rising leaders in their respective fields, which include law, media, government, and business. The delegates spent one week at Yale meeting with senior faculty members and students from Yale and young professionals from New Haven, exchanging ideas and sharing perspectives.

Yale faculty who participated included Stephen Pitti, professor of history and American studies and director of the Program in Ethnicity, Race & Migration, and political science faculty members Frances Rosenbluth, Peter Swenson, Gregory Huber, and Jessica Chen Weiss.

The faculty engaged the group members on major issues related to the future development of Chinese domestic and foreign policies, governance, and the social (cultural, ethnic) and economic impact of globalization, as well as entrepreneurship and innovation.

The delegation spent a second week in Washington, D.C., where they met with business leaders and Chinese experts from think tanks, as well as government officials from the U.S. State Department.

ACYF is a training organization for China’s future leaders; members have included former president of China Hu Jintao and the current premier, Li Keqiang, and vice premier, Liu Yandong.

Yale has had a longer and deeper relationship with China than any other university in the United States. This relationship has grown dramatically over the years through student and faculty exchange programs, the presence of Chinese students and scholars at Yale, and joint educational and research projects.