With no end in sight to the ongoing China-US trade tension, some worry if it will have a ripple effect on other areas of cooperation. With thousands of Chinese students pursuing academic degrees in the US, and vice-versa, higher education remains a top priority for both countries, and this is one area of Sino-US cooperation that should stay strong.
In 40 years of Sino-US diplomatic relations, higher education has long been a staple of bilateral cooperation.
“This year marks the renewal of the education agreement between China and the US. Basically, we've finalized, just have to find the right time to sign,” said Chen Dali, director of the Division of American and Oceanian Affairs at the Ministry of Education's Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges.
Screenshot from the Financial Times
As concern grows over China-US trade tension impacting education agreements, officials say not to worry.
“Both sides are confident and enthusiastic about China-US education cooperation,” Chen said.
Furthermore, Minking K. Chyu, dean of Sichuan University-Pittsburgh Institute, added that he believes the promotion of mutual understanding will improve collaboration looking ahead.
More students and scholars move between the two countries than ever before. Today more than 600,000 Chinese are pursuing academic degrees in the US, up from just a few dozen decades ago. Many also downplay reports of a US ban on student visas for Chinese nationals.
Denis Simon at the conference /CGTN Photo
“I think that's an exaggeration to think that every Chinese student to come to the United States is a threat to America's national securities," said Denis Simon, executive vice chancellor of Duke Kunshan University. "That's just beyond belief, and having worked with Chinese students for the last 30 to 40 years, I think that just doesn't match the reality of what we are seeing.”
Experts say too much is at stake to sabotage Sino-US cooperation in higher education. Many agree it holds the key to solving global problems.
"Who is going to solve them? Politicians? Business people? No! Universities, academics, scientists, scholars... they are the ones that are going to produce the discoveries, the knowledge, the breakthrough, the innovations, to make the world a better place,” said University of Hong Kong professor Gerard A. Postiglione.
Despite current trade disagreements between the two sides, higher education agreements are widely expected to go on unaffected.