China Radio International's subsidiary 'China Plus' recently carried out an online survey entitled "2020: China, US and Me".

Its aim is to enhance communication and understanding between young Chinese and American people, provide data support and create a conductive atmosphere for public diplomacy between the two countries. This is the second year in a row that China Plus has conducted a questionnaire among Chinese and American university students. The results will be further discussed in the upcoming dialogue-style event, "2016 From University to the World" on October 11, 2016 organized by China Plus in New York.

The questionnaire covers the following six areas: future prospects, high-level exchanges, mutual impressions, pragmatic cooperation, cultural perceptions and living experience. About 500 Chinese university students and 350 US university students answered the questionnaire, expressing their views and perspectives on communication, competition and cooperation between the two countries in the years ahead.

Compared with last year's survey, this year's results have shown some new trends:

1. Connect the present and future, integrating individual perspectives and relationships between the two countries closely.

With regard to China's current bilateral relationships with America, Russia, Japan and Europe, 66 percent of the Chinese university students surveyed say they consider the Sino-U.S. relationship as the most important bilateral relation for China, while 36 percent of American university students think it's the most vital for the US. About 39 percent of the American university students questioned regard the relationship between the US and Europe as the most important. In relation to this year's U.S. presidential election campaign, especially the TV debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, what concerns Chinese university students most is the presidential candidates' policy toward China, which greatly exceeds their concerns about American domestic policy.

Though the students' views differ on the importance of these bilateral relationships, the majority of them view Sino-American relationships in 2020 positively. The phrases used most frequently by the students when describing future bilateral relationships include "of vital importance", "improving", "more closely", "win-win cooperation", etc.

It is interesting to note that 19 percent of the Chinese university students who responded believe they would be traveling between China and the United States in 2020, and 7 percent of them think they would be living and working in America by that time.

2. Integrate state diplomacy and public diplomacy, raising suggestions for high-level exchanges

This year's questionnaire also highlights that state diplomacy and public diplomacy would be greatly integrated over the next few years. Students from both countries put forward their own proposals for reciprocal visits of the two countries' leaders in the future. Chinese students suggest that American leaders should brush up on their cultural skills in order to better understand China. They recommend calligraphy (49 percent), tea ceremony (22 percent) and tai chi (17 per cent) in order of importance. Calligraphy, as they say, kills two birds with one stone as it not only reflects traditional Chinese culture very well, but also helps in the learning of Chinese characters. The American university students surveyed suggest that in an effort to understand the United States, Chinese leaders understand American society first (55 percent), and also American politics (14 percent) and the American economy (13 percent).

Meanwhile, Chinese students hope American leaders would take time to visit historical and cultural cities such as Yangzhou and Shaoxing; while the American students recommend visits by Chinese leaders to small cities that can better reflect people's everyday lives. This would help the understanding of each other's history and culture, local customs, practices and daily life, and best meet the requirements and expectations of both sides.

3. Call for cooperative solution when problems arise

Last year's survey indicated that 46 percent of the American students questioned considered environmental pollution to be the biggest challenge to China's social development. This year's survey shows that "environmental protection" is seen as the most important area where the two countries should cooperate, garnering the votes from 38 percent of American university students and 29 percent of Chinese university students. This indicates that both sides attach great importance to sustainable development and a hope to solve environmental problems through cooperation in the future. The subjects that come second and third among Chinese students are technology, and sports/cultural education, while American students choose technology and social governance.

4. The American students have deepened their understanding of China, but the asymmetry between the two sides' mutual understanding remains.

The American students' understanding toward China has been improved compared with last year. For instance, Confucius, Jackie Chan and Jack Ma are the top three figures on the list of "Your Most Respected Chinese" chosen by American students this year. In 2015, Jackie Chan was ranked way ahead.

2016 also marks the first time that Alibaba founder Jack Ma appears on the list. The change demonstrates that Americans have started to recognize Chinese entrepreneurs. It is anticipated that more Chinese leading figures from different walks of life, such as entrepreneurs, scientists, athletes and writers will be recognized and gain respect from Americans in the future.

However, the survey suggests that mutual understanding of each other’s culture is still asymmetric and unbalanced. Because of the differences in communication channels, methods and influence, only 33.5 percent of American students questioned have learned about Chinese culture in their own country; 66.5 percent of them have never been exposed to Chinese culture. Chinese students meanwhile have a deeper understanding of American culture under the impact of American entertainment and technology industry.

At the same time, students from both countries remain curious and have many questions for each other. The Chinese students, who took part in the survey, are still puzzled over issues such as gun control, security affairs, and racial discrimination in the United States. While the questions raised by American students include "Why are Chinese people so hard-working?" "How much do Chinese people earn each month?" "What's China's education system like?" "What's the difference between eating Chinese food in America and in China?" etc. These questions indicate that both sides should still strengthen communication, and better understand each other’s basics and social state.

The dialogue-style event "2016 From University to the World" will be held on October 12, 2016. China Plus will simultaneously broadcast a live video stream to national and international audiences on YouTube, the China Plus News Facebook page, the China Plus news APP, CIBN OTT TV, and Tencent Video.