Nearly 100 students from 10 U.S. universities participated in the Future Makers 2026 program, a cultural and educational exchange initiative in China, culminating in a joint letter to President Xi Jinping reflecting on their experiences. In his response, President Xi encouraged young people from both China and the United States to foster friendship, cooperation, and mutual understanding through such people-to-people exchanges.
The weeklong program took place amid China’s hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, a setting that underscored the emphasis on strengthening ties between the two nations. The participating students traveled through Shandong province and Beijing, engaging in a series of visits that highlighted both China’s rich historical heritage and its rapidly advancing technological sector.
The itinerary began in Jinan, where the group attended the Asia-Pacific Civil Society Conference. From there, they visited Qufu—the birthplace of Confucius—exploring the Nishan Sacred Land and the Temple and Mansion of Confucius. Participants engaged in traditional Chinese calligraphy workshops and dialogues on themes such as "harmony in diversity" with local students at Qufu Normal University.
In Beijing, the group visited landmarks including the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. They also toured modern sites like Beijing E-Town Robot World, the Beijing High-Level Autonomous Driving Demonstration Area, and Xiaomi’s electric vehicle factory, experiencing firsthand the integration of ancient culture with cutting-edge innovation.
The program, co-hosted by the Beijing NGO Network for International Exchanges and the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation, brought together 100 U.S. students and 70 peers from Beijing and Shandong. Dialogue sessions held at Qufu Normal University and Tsinghua University facilitated discussions on cultural identity, innovation, sustainability, youth leadership, and Asia-Pacific cooperation. Outside formal events, students socialized over meals and shared personal interests, discovering commonalities in entertainment and sports.
Daryl Ng, Director of the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation and Chairman of Sino Group, participated in several exchanges, noting the value of such informal interactions. He praised the Beijing NGO Network for International Exchanges for its longstanding efforts to promote cross-cultural understanding and expressed commitment to continuing support for youth exchange programs.
The journey concluded at Yanqi Lake, the site of the 2014 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. Chinese and American students took part in a “Forest for Tomorrow” tree-planting activity, symbolizing both environmental stewardship and the cultivation of enduring international friendships. Participants expressed optimism that the relationships formed would extend beyond the trip, contributing to sustained people-to-people connections.
The students’ letter to President Xi reflected their enhanced understanding of China’s historical traditions and contemporary developments. They expressed hope that sharing their experiences would encourage greater dialogue and cultural exchange between the two nations, consistent with the 2023 agreement between Xi and U.S. President Donald Trump to expand cooperation in tourism and people-to-people ties.