The Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies hosted the US-China Exchange and Partnership Symposium, organized by seniors Esther Lynch and Ben Martin. The event brought together experts from all areas of scholarship to discuss the current state and future of US-China relations on February 7 and 8, 2025.
The first day began with a keynote from Mary Gallagher, Marilyn Keough Dean of the Keough School of Global Affairs. The following panels included scholars from the academic world, NGO perspectives, and experts from think tanks. The second day included student perspectives and speakers from industry. Co-organizer Esther Lynch, a senior studying global affairs with a concentration in Asian studies and political science, stated,“ I am deeply honored to have created a platform that brings together diverse voices from both nations during this critical time in US-China relations. The opportunity to foster meaningful dialogue and build bridges between our countries through academic, cultural, and professional exchange has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my time at Notre Dame.”
Esther Lynch and Ben Martin have been organizing this event for almost two years. When asked about the impact of the event, Martin, a political science major with a supplemental major in French with minors in Art History, stated, “Particularly as the United States navigates troubled, uncharted waters, it is critical to remain hopeful for a more peaceful world. As such, universities, such as Our Lady's, not only have the opportunity but [also] the obligation to bridge divides through dialogue. I am proud of Esther and my efforts to assist in this noble cause, but I am deeply appreciative of those who came ready to engage with these pressing questions whose effects extend beyond any border. Organizing this event alongside Esther and Katy White with the Liu Institute has been one of the highlights of my undergraduate academic experience, and I hope that this event will continue strongly into the coming years.”
Speakers and Participants
- Michel Hockx, Director, Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies and Professor of Chinese Literature, University of Notre Dame
- Mary Gallagher, Marilyn Keough Dean, Keough School of Global Affairs and Liu Institute Faculty Fellow, University of Notre Dame
- Yangyang Cheng, Yale University, and Victoria Shen, Stanford University
- Kyle Jaros, Keough School of Global Affairs and Liu Institute Faculty Fellow, University of Notre Dame
- Helen Ni, founder of Green LightYear NGO
- Li Zhu, Director of the Conservation Program, Paulson Institute
- Jennifer Turner, Director of the China Environment Forum at the Wilson Center
- Richard Yu Zhang, Intel China CTO
- Eason Ying '28, Greater China Scholar, University of Notre Dame
- Bennett Schmidt '25, active sustainability studies, University of Notre Dame
- Molly Wu '27, Chinese student, University of Notre Dame
- Alex Wang, Professor of Law and Walter and Shirley Wang Chair in U.S.-China Relations and Communications, UCLA