In 2019, the National Committee established a new Track II dialogue between the United States and China to discuss issues related to the digital economy, in partnership with the Guanchao Cyber Forum, a division of Chinese Internet Security Conference. Since 2022, the Chinese partner has been the China-U.S. Green Fund. The dialogue focuses on bilateral concerns in technology and how the two countries can cooperate to deal with issues arising from technological development.

The dialogue participants are evenly divided between the United States and China, and are experts in the field, along with corporate representatives from different sectors. The United States team is led by Admiral Dennis Blair, former director of national intelligence and a member of NCUSCR’s Board of Directors. The leader of the Chinese delegation is Mr. Xu Lin, chairman of the China-U.S. Green Fund and formerly with the National Development and Reform Commission.

At the conclusion of each dialogue, the two sides develop a consensus agreement documenting areas of discussion and recommendations to both nations. The National Committee and the China-U.S. Green Fund share the document with relevant agencies and offices in both governments.

2023 U.S.-China Track II Dialogue on the Digital Economy 
 
December 9-10, 2023 
Suzhou, China 

The National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and the China-U.S. Green Fund convened the sixth Track II Dialogue on the Digital Economy from December 9 to 10, 2023 in Suzhou, China. The Dialogue brought together U.S. and Chinese experts from academia, think tanks, and industry for non-governmental off-the-record in-depth discussions on digital economy issues of concern to both countries. 
 
This session of the Dialogue focused on the areas of artificial intelligence, data and enterprise software, and semiconductors. The two sides sought ways that the two countries can cooperate in the digital economy, despite the difficult bilateral relationship. Both sides agreed that, although China and the United States are in fierce competition, there is still room for cooperation in the digital economy. The two sides are currently writing a consensus agreement of policy recommendations, which will be posted on the National Committee’s website and sent to relevant government officials upon completion.

2022 U.S.-China Track II Dialogue on the Digital Economy 
 
December 19, 2022 and February 13, 2023 
Zoom meeting 
 
The National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and the China-U.S. Green Fund convened the fifth Track II Dialogue on the Digital Economy virtually through Zoom on December 19, 2022 and February 13, 2023 (December 20, 2022 and February 14, 2023 in China).  The Dialogue brought together U.S. and Chinese experts from academia, think tanks, and industry for non-governmental off-the-record in-depth discussions on digital economy issues of concern to both countries. 
 
This session of the Dialogue focused on the areas of data and enterprise software and semiconductors.  Both sides agreed that, although China and the United States are in fierce competition, there is still room for cooperation in the digital economy.  The consensus agreement developed by the two teams sets forth recommendations that both sides can propose to their respective governments.

2021 U.S.-China Track II Dialogue on the Digital Economy

November 17 – 18, 2021
Zoom meeting

The National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and the China Institute for Innovation & Development Strategy convened their fourth Track II Dialogue on the Digital Economy virtually through Zoom on November 17 and 18, 2021 (November 18 and 19, 2021 in China). The Dialogue brought together U.S. and Chinese experts from academia, think tanks, and industry for non-governmental, off-the-record, in-depth discussions on digital economy issues of concern to both countries.

The two days of discussion advanced the results of the previous session of the Dialogue held in December 2020, as set out in the Consensus Agreement from that meeting. The November 2021 session focused on two key areas of concern and opportunity in the digital economy for both nations, namely, semiconductors and enterprise software. The participants agreed that China-U.S. relations are at an unprecedented inflection point and both countries need to take concerted action if the digital economy is to develop for the benefit of both nations, their peoples, and, by extension, the world. The consensus agreement sets forth recommendations that both sides can propose to their respective governments.

2020 U.S.-China Track II Dialogue on the Digital Economy

December 2 – 4, 2020
Zoom meeting


The National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, together with the China Institute for Innovation & Development Strategy, the Fuxi Institution and the Guanchao Cyber Forum, convened their third Track II Dialogue on the Digital Economy virtually through Zoom on December 2 and 3, 2020 (December 3 and 4, 2020 in China). The dialogue brought together U.S. and Chinese experts from academia, think tanks, and industry for non-governmental, off-the-record, in-depth discussions on digital economy issues of concern to both countries. The two sides developed a consensus agreement, which has been shared with both governments.

2019 U.S.-China Track II Dialogues on the Digital Economy

December 9 – 10, 2019
Sanya, Hainan, China

The National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and the Guanchao Cyber Forum convened their second Track II Dialogue on the Digital Economy on December 9 and 10, 2019 in Sanya, Hainan, China. The dialogue brought together U.S. and Chinese experts from academia, think tanks, and industry for off-the-record discussions on digital economy issues of concern to both countries.

During the two-day meeting, representatives from both sides discussed a series of topics including data governance, optimizing and appropriately securing digital economy supply chain, artificial intelligence technology, and new trends in digital economic cooperation. They reached the following consensus agreement to provide a set of recommendations for their respective government departments based on the principles of openness and mutual benefit.

March 10 – 12, 2019
Washington, DC

The inaugural dialogue on the Digital Economy was held in March 2019 at the Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C. This initial gathering brought together ten American participants and ten Chinese participants, consisting of experts in the field and representatives of major technology companies. During the two-day meeting, participants focused their discussions on data governance, supply chain risk management and the Internet of Things. The two sides developed a consensus agreement, which has been shared with both governments.

2022 U.S.-China Track II Dialogue on the Digital Economy
December 2022 Consensus Agreement (PDF | 中文)

2021 U.S.-China Track II Dialogue on the Digital Economy
November 2021 Consensus Agreement (PDF | 中文)

2020 U.S.-China Track II Dialogue on the Digital Economy
December 2020 Consensus Agreement (PDF | 中文)

2019 U.S.-China Track II Dialogue on the Digital Economy
December 2019 Consensus Agreement (PDF | 中文)
March 2019 Consensus Agreement (PDF | 中文)