As Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives for his first state visit to Washington in more than a decade, a small group of American University students has returned inspired from their own journey from DC to China.

Earlier this month, 10 Eagles participated in the Future Makers 2026: China-US Youth Tour for a Shared Asia-Pacific Future, a weeklong cultural exchange designed to deepen ties and mutual understanding between young people in the United States and China. 

AU joined nine other US institutions and 170 total college students hosted by the Beijing NGO Network for International Exchanges and the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation. AU—the lone institution from Washington—was also one of only two universities invited for the second year in a row. 

“This trip is a once-in-a-lifetime, transformative experience that would not have been possible without AU,” said Tashina Giraud, director of international partnerships and strategic initiatives, who accompanied the students. “Our location in DC, our proximity to the diplomatic corps, and our international partnerships in China give us access to these types of invitations.” 

The AU contingent arrived in Jinan on September 1 to attend the opening ceremony of the Asia-Pacific Civil Society Conference before traveling to Qufu to explore the hometown, temple, and family cemetery and mansion of Confucius. 

At Qufu Normal University—and later at Tsinghua University—students engaged in dialogue with their Chinese counterparts on technological innovation, sustainability, youth leadership, and bilateral cooperation.

“It is so refreshing to see how [willing] other people were to dialogue with Americans,” said Stephanie Lobodanescu, SIS/BA ’28, who has studied Mandarin since elementary school. “I think that’s something that we can all learn from. We should all be willing to listen and learn, and maybe change our minds, if given the opportunity.” 

On September 3, the group traveled by high-speed rail to Beijing, where highlights included visits to the Palace Museum inside the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. The Eagles also sampled local culinary traditions across the capital city, including the original Peking duck at Bianyifang, a restaurant founded in 1416. 

At the Yizhuang Robot Exhibition Hall and the Beijing Autonomous Driving Demonstration Zone, students observed humanoid robots and driverless vehicles in action. 

On the final day, the group hiked the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall and planted trees on Yanqi Island, as a symbol of friendship and shared aspirations. 

The trip coincided with a shift in public sentiment: A growing number of Americans believe the United States should pursue closer ties with China, according to a May 2026 YouGov poll of more than 1,000 US adults. 

Following the tour, members of the US delegation wrote to Xi to reflect on their experiences. The Chinese leader, who is set to arrive in Washington on September 23, responded on September 21. 

Throughout the journey, AU students found common ground with their counterparts overseas.

“It was eye-opening,” said Adan Hernandez Nova, SOC/BA ’27, who even conversed in Spanish with several Chinese students. “We share the same beliefs, same hopes and dreams. We all want great jobs. We want to make an impact. We hope for the relations of our two nations to be great.” 

For Grace Wineinger, SIS/MA ’27, a former student-athlete on the women’s soccer team at Northwest Missouri State University, the trip offered the immersive global experience she missed as an undergraduate. Traveling abroad also helped the Kansas City–area online master’s student feel closer to the AU community.

“I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to have participated in this experience,” she said. “I feel more connected to the School of International Service as a virtual student than ever before. I am returning to my studies reinvigorated, enlightened, and with a renewed perspective on the possibilities for bilateral cooperation ahead.” 

Wineinger is especially optimistic that the US and China can learn to collaborate on complex issues like climate change. 

“The challenges of the future are global, and tackling them will require intense, innovative, multilateral collaboration,” she said. “I will carry the lessons learned and friendships I made with me into all my future endeavors, with the hopes of contributing to a better global future.” 

Giraud said she was equally moved by the curiosity and enthusiasm the students brought to every exchange along the way. 

“I watched these Eagles soar as they represented AU and our country,” she said. “Through their speech and demeanor, AU students distinguished themselves as diplomats and citizens of the world.”