On March 30, the Chinese Embassy hosted a China education reception as part of the 2026 Washington International Education Conference. Mr. William Fish, President of the Washington International Education Council, educators from more than 40 U.S. higher education institutions, and representatives from several foreign embassies in the United States attended the event. Minister Tang Zhiwen of the Chinese Embassy delivered welcome remarks, and Minister-Counselor Shen Xuesong, responsible for education affairs, presided over the event.

Minister Tang noted that China is currently the second-largest source of international students in the United States, while the number of American students studying and participating in exchange programs in China has shown a clear rebound. Exchanges among young students have injected renewed vitality into China–U.S. relations. China will remain committed to advancing high-level opening-up in education and will continue to expand exchanges and cooperation with universities around the world, including those in the United States.

Participants expressed positive views on bilateral education cooperation and engaged in in-depth discussions on new models and pathways for China–U.S. higher education exchange.