Building bridges

The field study not only deepened academic exchanges between Chinese and US universities in agriculture and rural development, but also provided international students with valuable on-the-ground experience. The program is a response to President Xi Jinping's 2023 initiative to invite 50,000 young US citizens to China for exchanges and study over the next five years. It is partly supported by the Young Envoys Scholarship program of the China Education Association for International Exchange.

Hu said observing how US students asked questions revealed different ways of thinking. "We might frame development in terms of rural vitalization, while they often bring in global climate change and sustainability perspectives," Hu said. That exchange helped both sides better understand the shared world they inhabit, she added.

Liu said such trips are powerful because they focus on reality rather than narratives. "For students from developed countries, this isn't about comparison alone, but seeing another development path to solve shared challenges," she said.

As the Cornell students returned home, many carried with them not just notes and photos, but deeper questions about China's agriculture and rural affairs.

Asllani said she is considering returning to China for a master's program through a fellowship, noting that perspectives from the West about China are complicated.

"I was nervous and didn't know what to expect when I first came here," she said.

"As I engaged with people and saw everyday life, I realized there were far more similarities than differences."

She added that the trip gave her a deep appreciation for the country, and also left her with a bittersweet feeling.

"As younger generations, through initiatives like Cornell coming to China, we can help build that relationship by sharing our real experiences when we return home and showing what life here is actually like," she said.

Wang Nasi contributed to this story.