From September 18 to 24, 2024, The Johns Hopkins University – Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies (HNC) and the Shanghai Institute for International Studies (SIIS) hosted the second annual Shanghai Nanjing Plus 2024 series, titled Exploring Diverse Perspectives on U.S.-China Relations (hereafter “Shanghai Nanjing Plus”). The event brought together 19 young leaders and academic representatives from institutions including Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, Loyola Marymount University, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Center for Global Development, the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, and the South China Morning Post. Notably, nine participants were HNC alumni.

This year’s Shanghai Nanjing Plus events centered on China’s efforts toward sustainable and balanced regional development. In addition to Shanghai and Nanjing, Wuhan was included as a representative inland city, offering the delegation a comparative perspective on energy transition and urban-rural development between coastal and central regions. Linked by the Yangtze River, which flows from Wuhan through Nanjing and ultimately into the Huangpu River in Shanghai, these three cities provided participants with firsthand insight into the economic, social, and cultural interconnections between Central and Eastern China.

To highlight China’s approach to its “dual carbon” goals, HNC led the delegation on visits to key institutions such as the New Energy Research Institute in Wuhan, the China Carbon Emission Rights Registration and Clearing Limited Company, and the Shanghai Environment and Energy Exchange. In Nanjing, the group visited Nanjing Steel Group Co., Ltd., an enterprise promoting energy efficiency and emissions reduction through digital innovation. Delegates engaged in discussions with officials on China’s climate policies, the carbon trading market, climate finance, and emerging technologies for environmental protection. At Wuhan University, Nanjing University, and Tongji University, the delegation shared research findings and engaged in dialogues on U.S.-China cooperation in climate action and the development of new energy industries.

Focusing on regional growth, the group explored modern rural revitalization efforts in Nanjing’s Huashu Village and took a walk along Shanghai’s Suzhou Creek Riverside Promenade to learn about preserving historical context within urban development. Professor Guo Wei, Vice Dean of the School of Social Sciences at Nanjing University, provided an in-depth overview of the history, current trends, and implications of population migration in China’s modernization process.

During activities in Nanjing on September 21-22, HNC hosted a thematic seminar discussing sustainable development strategies within the context of U.S.-China cooperation. The seminar, attended by HNC faculty and students, addressed three main topics: sustainable and social development, political systems and technological innovation, and opportunities and challenges in the international context. Scholars from both countries exchanged perspectives on defining sustainable development, differing national approaches to sustainability, media portrayals of U.S.-China relations, models of technological innovation under different political systems, and international competition and cooperation in climate action, fostering a dynamic atmosphere.

Several delegates also visited the Pearl S. Buck Memorial Museum at Nanjing University’s Gulou campus. By learning about her experiences living and writing in China and her role in promoting U.S.-China relations, participants gained a deeper understanding of her contributions as a cultural bridge between the two countries.

The Shanghai Nanjing Plus events received support from the Department of American and Oceanian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Hubei Provincial Foreign Affairs Office, and the U.S. Consulate General in Wuhan. Tang Zhiwen, Deputy Director of the Department of American and Oceanian Affairs; Zhang Xiaomei, Director of the Hubei Provincial Foreign Affairs Office; and Christopher Green, U.S. Consul General in Wuhan, attended the opening ceremony on the evening of September 18 in Wuhan, expressing strong support for the event as an essential platform for cross-cultural exchange and dialogue. They encouraged continued collaboration among think tanks, scholars, and youth from both nations.

Cultural exchange remains a vital bond in U.S.-China relations. In today’s challenging landscape, HNC draws on nearly 40 years of educational expertise to promote meaningful exchange among U.S. and Chinese experts in a spirit of mutual respect through the Shanghai Nanjing Plus initiative. Since its launch in 2023, Shanghai Nanjing Plus has become a recurring event, fostering mutual understanding and seeking common ground in U.S.-China relations.