The meetings, organized by EWI in partnership with the China Institute of International Studies, occurred against the backdrop of major economic transitions within China and a tumultuous U.S. presidential election campaign. 

The High-Level Security Dialogue is an annual dialogue between U.S. and Chinese academics, former and current military and government officials, and business leaders. This year’s discussions led to new insights and policy ideas on both sides. Members of the EWI delegation also held the first public outreach event in the history of the High-Level Security Dialogue process: a public forum on the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, co-hosted by the Renmin University of China and Consensus Media Group and widely attended by Renmin University students and faculty and members of major Chinese media and social media outlets.  

Substantive and candid discussions during the week focused on a range of highly topical U.S.-China and China issues, including current tensions in the South China Sea, cross-Strait relations on the eve of Tsai Ing-wen’s inauguration, North Korea, China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative, China’s domestic political situation, and the status of its national anti-corruption campaign.