Two-day program advances dialogue and collaboration on AI, geopolitics, and people-to-people exchange amid shifting U.S.–China relations
HONG KONG (November 13, 2025) — On November 17–18, the China–United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF) will host the 6th U.S.–China Hong Kong Forum, one of the most significant annual gatherings on the U.S.–China relationship. This year’s event — themed “Circles for Peace” — comes at a defining moment for global diplomacy and cooperation, exploring how technology, geopolitics, and people-to-people exchange can collectively shape a more peaceful and predictable future.
The theme marks three major anniversaries: the 80th anniversaries of the end of the Second World War and the founding of the United Nations, and the 30th anniversary of the landmark 1995 Beijing World Conference on Women. The Forum is CUSEF’s flagship annual event and reflects its enduring mission to foster understanding and trust through dialogue, mutual learning, and shared responsibility.
The Forum will discuss solutions around three “Circles for Peace”:
● Artificial Intelligence: Exploring its impact on global governance, the future of work, and how technology is reshaping international cooperation and competition.
● Geopolitics & Security: Examining how to manage the rise of security concerns spreading into non-security areas.
● People-to-People Exchange: Emphasizing learning and connection through shared platforms such as music, art, and sports, while also honoring the lessons of the past.
The Forum, co-organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) with the strategic support of venue partner The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong, will gather about 50 leaders from government, business, academia, and civil society, from the U.S., China, and a range of significant third countries shaped by the bilateral relationship, including India, Singapore, and Germany.
Opening remarks will be delivered by John Zhao, Chairman of CUSEF, James Chau, President of CUSEF — and Shen Xin, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the co-organizer of this year’s Forum. China’s Ambassador to the United States, Xie Feng, will offer a special diplomatic address on the realities and opportunities within the evolving relationship.
Among the speaker highlights are Charlene Barshefsky, Chair of the National Committee on U.S.–China Relations and 12th U.S. Trade Representative; Wang Jisi, Founding President of the Institute of International and Strategic Studies at Peking University; Nirupama Rao, former Foreign Secretary of India and Ambassador to both China and the United States; and representatives of the Nixon, Carter, and Bush presidential families
A centerpiece of the Forum will be the address by Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor of the Interim Government of Bangladesh and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, titled “The Equation for Humanity.” He will discuss how peace must rest on human dignity, economic inclusion, and youth leadership — calling for a renewal of international cooperation rooted in social business and shared prosperity.
The Day One public plenary will explore the three concentric circles of this year’s theme, each unfolding through a keynote to inspire, a panel to debate, and a masterclass to translate ideas into practical insights.
Day One will also feature a special tribute session, “Flying Tigers: The Legacy of Courage and Cooperation,” honoring the American pilots who fought alongside their Chinese counterparts during the Second World War. Eighty years after their missions over China, the session revisits their extraordinary story of solidarity and sacrifice — a reminder that even without a common language or flag, shared purpose can unite nations. The tribute will explore how the story of the Flying Tigers continues to inspire partnership between the U.S. and China in times of global challenge.
The Day Two program, conducted as closed-door roundtables, will feature participants diving deeper into the themes discussed during Day One. These sessions will focus on developing actionable policy recommendations to share with governmental and non-governmental partners.
Alongside Day Two, CUSEF will host a special side event on youth collaboration that brings together American and Chinese university students to work on shared challenges. The initiative reflects CUSEF’s commitment to empowering the next generation to lead with imagination, empathy, and a sense of unified purpose in U.S.-China relations.
“Peace, like a circle, has no beginning and no end — it must be continually redrawn through dialogue and understanding,” said James Chau, President of CUSEF. “Our task is to help the United States, China, and the wider world find common ground, and sustain that effort across generations. Each conversation we host strengthens the foundations of trust and responsibility on which peace depends.”
About CUSEF
The China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF) is an independent, non-governmental organization with a mission to serve as a platform for exchange among the peoples of both countries and the world they shape together.
CUSEF was established in 2008 by Mr. Tung Chee-hwa, a visionary leader in global shipping and Hong Kong’s first Chief Executive. It partners with two presidential legacies, The Carter Center and the George H.W. Bush Foundation.
Since 2008, CUSEF has created opportunities for leaders and students from the U.S., China, and beyond to exchange ideas, challenge assumptions, and forge relationships resilient enough to outlast political cycles. Our high-impact initiatives include strategic dialogues among senior officials, military, and thought leaders; high school and university exchange programs involving some 3,000 students; and two digital platforms that reach over 12 million followers worldwide.
Every November, CUSEF hosts the U.S.-China Hong Kong Forum, its annual flagship event for business leaders, policy architects, renowned scholars, and Nobel laureates. Heads of state and government who have addressed the Forum include the leaders of Japan, Canada, Italy, Singapore, Ireland, Bangladesh, Timor-Leste, and New Zealand.
For more information, visit www.hkforum.com and www.cusef.org.hk