Future U.S.-China Relationship Managers

“Much of the future of the world in the 21^st Century will depend on how well China and the United States sustain growth in our own economies, manage our relationship with one another, and together address challenges facing the global economy.” These words were spoken last week by Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, Robert D. Hormats, at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center in Nanjing, China, to a student audience of future U.S.-China relationship managers. The importance of exposing future Sino-U.S. policy makers, relationship managers and leaders to the “other” cannot be underestimated. Last academic year, 2011/12, over 194,000 Chinese students were studying in the United States according to the International Institute of Education, getting exposure to US values, culture and style of governance. At a guess, it is feasible to predict that over one million Chinese students have studied in the United States since normalization of relations in 1979. In comparison, just over 15,500 U.S. students studied in China during 2010/11 according to the latest data available, a 5.3 percent increase over the previous year.

Looking to the future, and the myriad of potential stumbling blocks, possible miscommunications, and unforeseen circumstances in Sino-U.S. relations, it is vital that both countries continue to invest in student exchanges, education and development of the next generation of relationship mangers. There is a lot to be said for mutual understanding, empathy with the other and human dialogue—ideally bilingually—within the realm of international relations. It is worth noting that Mahatma Gandhi was trained as a lawyer at University College London, an experience that no doubt put him in good stead in his future dealings with British authorities. It is also encouraging to know that today, now, there are U.S. students studying in China in programs such as the Hopkins-Nanjing Center. The HNC, in this author’s opinion, does deserve special mention as it is a unique program that is only open to graduate students, with classes taught in Chinese on subjects including Chinese History, Chinese Religion and Chinese Politics. This is a real opportunity to experience the other, though the teachings of the other.

In order for the U.S.-China relationship to truly be one of mutual benefit resulting in “win-win” results, as opposed to zero-sum, it is imperative that the individuals engaged in forming, shaping, developing and managing the relationship know what they are doing. Needless to say, this is easier said than done.  That is preciously why programs and partnerships—as in the case of the 25-plus-year Johns Hopkins University and Nanjing University venture—are so important. It would appear that  the administrations of new Chinese president, Xi Jinping, and re-elected U.S. president Barack Obama are already in agreement on this point. As Mr. Hormats explained to his audience last week,

“And there’s no better time to be here than just three weeks after Communist Party Chairman Xi Jinping stated in his first speech that: ‘China needs to learn more about the world, and the world also needs to learn more about China. I hope you will continue to make efforts and contributions to deepening the mutual understanding between China and the countries of the world.’ Chairman’s Xi’s message is directed squarely at those of you in this room—the future leaders of the United States and China who will contribute to enhancing mutual understanding in the future.” [Italics added]

It is reassuring to know that those, who at times will asked and expected to carefully and diligently handle difficult and tense situations, will be well trained and equipped to do so as a result of having graduated from programs like those offered at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center.