YLFers enjoying some outdoor time

2013 YLFers engage in a team-building activity

With U.S.-China relations taking on increasing importance in all spheres of life – economic, geopolitical, cultural – it becomes ever more vital to seek out opportunities that will enhance the dialogue between our countries and build lasting ties between our peoples.

The Young Leaders Forum (YLF), now in its second decade, provides an excellent opportunity to do just that. Each year, YLF holds a 3½-day retreat to which a select group of exceptional American and Chinese young professionals are invited. Together, participants explore substantive issues and develop enduring friendships in a casual, intimate environment.

The 2013 Forum, relaunched after a one-year hiatus, took place in Austin, Texas, and had a theme of "Drive!" Fellows discussed some of the forces in their live that have motivated their actions and behaviors.

YLF Fellows come from a variety of fields. Fellows include government officials and politicians, authors, university leaders, entrepreneurs, and musicians and artists. Attention is given to geographic, gender, and ethnic diversity. Please look inside the "Members" drawer at right for an alphabetical listing of all YLF participants since the program's inception.

The National Committee, the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA), and the Forum's sponsors – led this year by the Alcoa Foundation, along with XCoal Energy & Resources and Amgen – cover all lodging, food, and program costs of the YLF retreat, which alternate between a U.S. and China locale. Participants are asked to pay their own travel expenses to and from the venue, but some full or partial subsidies are available.