WSSU builds global-ready leaders at Duke–UNC China Leadership Summit
Professor Xiong, three students participate in international policy dialogue
Winston-Salem State University professor Dr. Wen Xiong led a delegation of three students to the 16th annual Duke–UNC China Leadership Summit in February, providing participants with international exposure to policy dialogue, cultural exchange and global leadership discussions.
Xiong, the Sara Lee Foreign Language and Culture Endowed Chair professor in the Department of World Languages and Cultures, was joined by students Anthony Costanzi, Ja’daeyah O’Bryant-Murray and Eddie Xiong. The three-day summit, jointly organized by students from Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, convened scholars, diplomats, policy advisers and international leaders to examine the evolving relationship between the United States and China.
This year’s theme, "Sharing the Future: Global Connectivity and Collaboration in U.S.– China Relationships," focused on pathways for cooperation and competition between the world’s two largest global powers amid shifting political, economic and technological challenges.
During the conference, Xiong delivered a featured presentation titled, “Digital Era: Why Chinese Language Matters More Than Ever.” Her talk emphasized the growing strategic importance of advanced Chinese language proficiency, noting that linguistic and cultural competence strengthens professional judgment, global literacy and cross-cultural engagement in an increasingly interconnected world.
The summit is a student-organized forum designed to encourage dialogue on rebuilding trust, identifying shared interests and developing collaborative approaches to global issues. Participants represented the United States, China and other regions, offering diverse perspectives on diplomacy, security, economics and international cooperation.
Xiong said the experience gave students valuable exposure to high-level policy conversations and real-world applications of language and cultural expertise. WSSU students participated in panels, networking sessions and cross-institutional exchanges, praising the “breadth and depth” of discussions and expressing interest in continued university participation in future summits.
Organizers noted that U.S.–China relations remain central to shaping the international order. While the two nations differ in governance and values, they remain interconnected through economic ties, technological interdependence and shared global responsibilities. Discussions at the summit explored how cooperation and competition can coexist, examining questions surrounding diplomatic channels, collaborative frameworks and opportunities for joint leadership on challenges such as climate change, geopolitical conflict and technological rivalry.
Through these conversations, the 2026 summit sought to imagine pathways toward a more connected and collaborative global future while acknowledging the complexities that define one of the world’s most consequential bilateral relationships.
