2025.11.03
From 30 to 31 October 2025, Grandview Institution (GVI) and PAX sapiens (U.S.) jointly organised the First China–U.S. High-Level Political Dialogue (Track II). Chinese and U.S. experts engaged in in-depth discussions on six topics: the current state and future prospects of China–U.S. relations, approaches to reshaping bilateral ties, economic competition and cooperation within the international order, emerging flashpoints and new risks, potential avenues for China–U.S. cooperation, and conflict prevention and crisis management.
The dialogue coincided with the meeting between President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump in Busan, South Korea. Beyond the official summit, the dialogue provided a platform to explore the deeper causes of disagreements and differences between China and the United States through civil channels, seeking common interests and areas for joint action, and exploring solutions to prevent conflict and manage crises.
Participants noted that current China–U.S. interactions are characterised by low-intensity conflict coexisting with limited cooperation, with technical engagements dominating while strategic interactions have decreased. As domestic tensions and the international landscape evolve, the trend toward risk mitigation and moderate decoupling may continue. Looking ahead, a more strategic perspective is needed to conceptualise a new framework for bilateral relations, particularly in areas where China and the U.S. can cooperate. Regardless of fluctuations in the bilateral relationship, Track II dialogues and civil exchanges must continue uninterrupted, with think tanks playing a key role in managing differences and expanding the list of cooperative initiatives.
U.S. Delegation (PAX sapiens) was led by Marcel Arsenault, Founder, the delegation included:
• David Rank, Head of China Business, The Cohen Group; former Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy in China
• James Shinn, Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asia and Pacific Security Affairs
• Mark Lambert, Former Assistant Deputy Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
• Bates Gill, Senior Fellow on Asian Security, National Bureau of Asian Research
• Rorry Daniels, Executive Director, Asia Society Policy Institute
Other participants included Conor Seyle, Chief Operating Officer, PAX sapiens; Eric Richardson, China Project Representative; and Ming Zhongqiang, China Chief Representative.
Chinese Delegation:
• Yu Hongjun, Former Vice Minister, United Front Work Department
• Wang Jisi, Former Director, Institute of International Strategic Studies, Peking University
• Jia Qingguo, Former Dean, School of International Studies, Peking University
• Prof. Shen Dingli, Director, China Studies Center, GVI
• Wei Hongxia, Chief Researcher, Contemporary China and World Studies Institute, China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration
• Ren Libo, President, GVI
• Zhang Yi, Senior Research Fellow, GVI
Additional observers from policy-making institutions also attended the dialogue.