We are proud to have successfully concluded our third annual "Shanghai Nanjing Plus" program, co-hosted with the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS).

From October 9th to 15th, our program brought together twenty young and mid-career professionals and scholars from the United States and other countries for a journey across Shanghai, Hefei, and Nanjing—half of whom were alumni of the Hopkins-Nanjing Center or Johns Hopkins SAIS. This year’s theme, "Technology Innovation on the Shifting Economic and Policy Landscape,” provided the framework for an in-depth examination of the profound transformations shaping modern China, from corporate strategy and government policy to education and community life.

The delegation's itinerary offered multifaceted insights into this year's theme. Participants engaged in substantive discussions on governance at the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress, and learned about urban renewal at Nanjing's Yihe Road Digital Exhibition Hall. Visits to leading enterprises provided firsthand perspectives on the future of mobility and manufacturing, including NIO's battery-swapping technology, Hefei's Urban Air Mobility operations, and the digital transformation of the Nanjing Iron & Steel Group. The delegation also explored advances in AI and automation at the Shanghai Humanoid Robot Innovation Incubator and the Rockwell Automation Net Zero Intelligent Manufacturing Innovation Center. The human dimension of this technological shift was examined through dialogues with students at Shanghai University and the Nanjing Commercial College, and with residents of Hefei's Linxi Community. The program culminated with a Youth Roundtable Forum at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center, providing a platform for robust intellectual exchange.

Group Discussion at Caohejing Innovation Park

The success of this program was made possible through the significant contributions of our partners. We extend our deepest gratitude to our co-sponsor, the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS), as well as to the numerous organizations that generously shared their expertise, including Shanghai Municipal People's Congress, The Paper (澎湃新闻), Shanghai University, Caohejing Development Zone, Rockwell Automation, Shanghai Humanoid Robot Innovation Incubator, Anhui People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Gotion High-Tech, NIO, Linxi Community, Yihe Road Digital Exhibition Hall, Nanjing Commercial College, and Nanjing Iron & Steel Group.

NIO EV Plant Tour

By facilitating direct engagement and substantive dialogue, the Shanghai Nanjing Plus program continues to strengthen the foundation for mutual understanding in the U.S.-China relationship. We are encouraged by the connections established and the perspectives exchanged, and we look forward to continuing this vital dialogue.