China and the US have a history of cultural connections. In 1979, the two countries signed an agreement on cultural cooperation.

Several programs have been implemented since then. These ties cover everything from medicine and sports, to dance and drama.

Politics aside, China-US cultural ties are diverse, perhaps helping to pave the way for partnerships that go beyond kitchens, fields, clinics and stages. Here are just some of the highlights of those partnerships.

Chinese opera star Zhang Jun recently performed his re-imagination of Shakespeare’s Hamlet before a sold-out venue in New York.

“I heard people saying that they were savoring the flavor of the show. They found it very interesting. I think it’s most intriguing that a Chinese performance can bring people closer to western literature classics. To me, being interesting is important,” he said.

And last year, dancers from the US state of Georgia made history in Beijing, becoming the first American dance troop to perform at the Chinese Spring Festival gala.

In 2016, a fertility breakthrough left many asking: how do you make a baby from the DNA of three people? The reproductive process involved people from across the world, but Dr. John Zhang from China’s Zhejiang province spearheaded it and led a team from the US.

Over the decades, sports diplomacy has been responsible for a number of relationship-building opportunities. For example a team of young Chinese baseball players recently lived in the US for an entire summer to learn more about their chosen sport. 

The fusion between the US and China has given rise to Americanized dishes, such as General Tso’s chicken and fortune cookies. Chefs at the International Culinary Center in California have been among the many in the country trying to cook up new ways to blend Chinese and American flavors.