People-to-people exchange is the key pillar and powerful enabler to deepen and expand cross-cultural understanding within U.S.-China relations. With the strong basis that has been built by educational cooperation and exchanges between the two countries over the years, many generations of the people have had the opportunity to study on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, get to know more about each other, and better appreciate the dynamism of each society.
In November 2023 in San Francisco, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced an important new initiative, inviting 50,000 young Americans to China on exchange and study over the next five years. The initiative provides a nurturing environment for young people to move and see the world. The “Young Envoys Scholarship”(YES) program came into being to support this powerful initiative, and the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE) is serving as the primary coordinating entity of YES program.
The YES program is an integrated information hub that consolidates resources from numerous Chinese educational institutions, including all school levels across China’s different regions, with a view to being an effective mechanism to help students from American campuses to find their ideal overseas programs and opportunities in China. Participants in YES are able to gain cross-cultural competencies in a diverse range of academic settings with hands-on adventures, while engaging in valuable educational experiences that can earn credits. Depending on the programs, there also will be opportunities to obtain a degree or transfer credits to the home institutions. Please consult with the specific program and check with your home school’s transfer policies.
The overall program includes short-term exchange programs, international summer school programs, summer/winter camp, semester-long/short term study programs, short-term internship programs, and international students foundation programs and youth forums, etc. Under the framework of YES, featured short-term visit programs include Zhi-Xing China Fellowships, U.S.-China Student Leaders Exchange, and the 1,000 Schools Hands Together Initiative. Hosted by CEAIE, participating students are able to explore recent social, economic and scientific developments in China while revisiting the five thousand-year history of China and experiencing its unique cultural and geographical richness.