“Oversea Young Chinese Forum” Annual Conference and 25th Anniversary Celebration Held in San Diego

LAPost/ San Diego, CA (September 3, 2024) – The Oversea Young Chinese Forum (OYCF) held its 2024 annual conference and 25th-anniversary celebration from August 31 to September 1 in San Diego. The event was co-hosted by the 21st Century China Center at the University of California, San Diego’s (UCSD) School of Global Policy and Strategy, under the theme “Observing China Up Close: Field Research, China’s Changes, and U.S.-China Relations.” Nearly 80 experts, scholars, and doctoral students from across the United States and China gathered to discuss the social developments in China and their impact on U.S.-China relations.

Susan Shirk（Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

During the two-day conference, several leading experts delivered keynote speeches. Susan Shirk, a recognized authority on U.S.-China relations and Chinese politics, Research Professor at UCSD, and Founding Director of the 21st Century China Center, discussed “The Future of U.S.-China Relations.” Internationally renowned anthropologist Dr. Yan Yunxiang from UCLA spoke on the “Reflections on the Pros and Cons of Doing Ethnographic Research” while Dr. Xiaoshuo Hou, Sociology and Asian Studies Professor at Skidmore College, focused on “The Young and Restless in China” sharing her research on the “second-generation migrant workers” in Shenzhen.

Prof. Yan Yunxiang （Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

Prof. Hou Xiaoshuo（Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

Professor Hou’s keynote addressed the challenges faced by China’s younger generation, particularly among the marginalized groups in Shenzhen. Dr. Yan shared insights from his 40-year longitudinal study of a village he had lived in during the Cultural Revolution, while Professor Shirk analyzed current U.S. policies toward China and expressed the 21st Century China Center’s commitment to fostering diverse perspectives and debates.

Other prominent academics, including Professor Man Yunlong from Peking University’s School of Transnational Law, Professor Su Yang from UC Irvine’s Department of Sociology, and Assistant Professor Long Yan from UC Berkeley, moderated the keynote sessions.

From left: Duan Jiling, Li Fan, Huang Xu, Zhou Xiaogao（Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

The conference also featured fellows panels led by Assistant Professors Luo Wei from the University of Minnesota and Duan Jiling from the University of Nebraska. The panels, titled ” What did I learn about China from my fieldwork?” and “How to Make the Most Out of Fieldwork: Do’s and Don’ts of Field Research in China” included doctoral students sharing their research experiences and the challenges they faced while working on their dissertations.

Former Stilwell fellow Huang Kaimeng （Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

In another session, Lei Guang, So Family Executive Director, 21st Century China Center, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy moderated a discussion on “Stilwell’s Legacy and People-to-People Relations” with presentations from former Stilwell fellow Huang Kaimeng and former Deputy Editor of Sanlian Life Week Li Jing, who shared the historical interactions between General Stilwell’s family and China.

From left: Guang Lei, Ma Junling（Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

The conference also announced the recipients of this year’s “OYCF – Gregory C. Chow and Paula K. Chow China Research Fieldwork Fellowship.” One of the awardees, Xie Liubing, a PhD candidate in Urban and Regional Planning at UC Berkeley, presented his research on how China is developing an affordable rental housing market as an emerging governance tool for managing the diverse migrant populations in large cities.

OYCF Chair of Board Ma Junling presented the forum’s operational and financial reports and introduced new board members. Professors Lei Guang and Ma Junling also announced the establishment of the OYCF Stilwell Fellowship, which will support research on U.S.-China relations starting this year.

Several founding members who were unable to attend the conference, including Professor Tai-Chün Kuo from Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, sent video messages congratulating the forum on its 25th anniversary.

Group photo of the board members of the Overseas Chinese Youth Forum (OYCF) (Photo provided by: Guanglei/LAPost)

The Oversea Young Chinese Forum, established in 1999, has been a vital platform for the exchange of ideas on Chinese humanities and social sciences. Founded by Chinese professionals and scholars, the forum actively promotes cultural exchanges and grassroots interactions between the U.S. and China, serving as an important bridge between the two nations.

In addition to providing a high-level academic exchange platform for students, OYCF also offers travel and accommodation subsidies. Yu Yanze, a first-year PhD student at Columbia University and a Fudan University graduate, expressed that attending this conference was “the best forum experience so far, making us scholars who do Chinese studies in the U.S. truly feel at home.”

（Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

The Oversea Young Chinese Forum (OYCF) was established in 1999 to provide a regular platform for overseas Chinese scholars, graduate students, professionals, and others interested in China’s development. As an inclusive, non-partisan, non-profit organization, OYCF advocates for volunteerism and is dedicated to fostering a lasting interest among its members in social innovation, research, and U.S.-China educational exchanges. (By: Richard Ren/LAPost)