Dear Friends,
I hope you and your loved ones enjoyed a peaceful holiday season and are finding moments of rest and renewal as 2026 begins.
In Hong Kong, the closing weeks of last year were marked by difficulty following the tragic November fires. The resilience shown by communities across the city — neighbors helping neighbors, first responders working without pause, and families rebuilding with quiet determination — has been a powerful reminder of the strength and fortitude of the Hong Kong people.
As we look to the year ahead, the China-United States Exchange Foundation is guided by this commitment to shared responsibility.
Over the past year, CUSEF’s work has been based on our core belief that progress in U.S.–China relations is built through people, dialogue, and sustained engagement — even, and especially, in challenging times.
In 2025, we supported a wide range of high-level and track-two dialogues aimed at improving understanding and stability, including strategic security discussions in Beijing and long-standing platforms such as the North Pavilion Dialogue and the China and Globalization Forum.
Image: Ambassador Charlene Barshefsky, CUSEF Chairman John Zhao, and other guests at the 6th U.S.-China Hong Kong Forum.
We also convened our annual U.S.-China Hong Kong Forum, which brought together global leaders, scholars, and practitioners to discuss opportunities for shared leadership, responsible AI, and the role of dialogue and exchange in strengthening peace and stability.
Additionally, CUSEF co-hosted another U.S.-China Art Dialogue, this time in Beijing, reinforcing the role of the arts as a space for connection, trust-building, and sustained exchange beyond politics alone.
Equally central to our work has been investing in the next generation. This year, we welcomed and supported student and youth delegations from across the United States and around the world — among them students from institutions such as The Lawrenceville School, Yenching Academy, Baucus Institute, Semester at Sea, and more — facilitating exchanges across China that emphasized curiosity, empathy, and firsthand understanding. Our CUSEF scholars also joined global conversations at gatherings like the One Young World Summit, connecting youth leadership to real-world challenges.
Image: Baucus Institute students visit the U.S. Embassy in Beijing during a CUSEF-led exchange trip, where they met with U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue.
We also announced new partnerships over the past year, including with the Yunus and You Foundation, founded by Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus, where we supported his annual High-Level Event during the United Nations General Assembly.
Beyond in-person exchanges, CUSEF continued to expand its digital platforms sharing diverse perspectives on geopolitics, economics, culture, and innovation — helping millions engage with ideas that move beyond headlines toward nuance and understanding.
Looking ahead to 2026, we remain guided by the same commitments: to invest in young leaders, to support meaningful exchange across cultures and sectors, and to create spaces where dialogue can prevail over division.
Thank you for being part of this community and for your continued support of our mission. May 2026 bring light, hope, and a more compassionate world for all.
Warm wishes,
James Chau
President
China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF)