SHANGHAI — A group of students from Columbia University in the United States recently had an opportunity to visit Chinese electric carmaker Nio's delivery center in Shanghai, where they engaged in a lively discussion.

Brimming with curiosity and awe over China's electric vehicle advancements, the students asked interesting questions about the future of sustainable mobility. Their inquiries spanned topics such as the range of Nio's batteries, the rationale behind renting or building Nio Houses, the impact of power swap solutions on social sustainability, and the company's vision for a greener future.

"Though I was prepared, I was still surprised by the depth of their thinking on the development of the EV industry," says Jin Bei, a senior product experience expert at Nio, after the Q&A session with the visiting students.

Having participated in over 20 such sessions since last June, Jin notes that the students' engaging questions clearly demonstrate their strong interest in and solid understanding of the development trajectory of China's electric vehicle industry.

As the students entered Nio's showroom, many eagerly hopped into the driver's seat of the display cars. "This showroom is crazy," says Anna Torpey, a postgraduate student, impressed by the innovative technologies of the companies. "I do think that this type of EV technology is going to be really important for our future."

"The cars are modern and sleek. I'm not a big car person but I was definitely impressed by what I saw," says Jonathan Epstein, another student who had previously worked in the US tech industry.

Asked to summarize her thoughts on the visit, Torpey described it in three words: bright, fun and eye-opening.

Epstein says he is excited about the future of Chinese EVs, noting that the EV industry offers an opportunity for US-China collaboration to promote sustainability, as "we all live on one planet".

The group of 27 students was part of a 10-day trip to China that concluded on Jan 10, during which they visited iconic landmarks such as the Great Wall, the Palace Museum in Beijing, and the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, all UNESCO World Heritage sites.

They also exchanged ideas with Chinese university students and gained insights into the people's congress system, rural vitalization efforts, and urban community renewal.

For Miriam Triassi, a German student at Columbia University, the experience far exceeded just discovering China; it was about connecting with kindred spirits who shared her curiosity.

"Talking to students and young people today was really nice. I found that we have so many things in common," Triassi says. "We talked about a variety of topics, and it feels like an authentic way to understand our shared thoughts and differences."

The trip was part of a 2023 initiative by the Chinese government to invite 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study programs over a five-year period, according to the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, one of the organizers of the trip.

"I think that to truly understand people, a culture, you need to engage with it firsthand. I'm happy to participate in this initiative and hope that more Americans come to China to experience it as well," says Joshua Kimball, who is studying US-China relations and has previously visited the country.

He notes that this trip allowed him to see a more multifaceted China, sharing his plans to work and live in the country after graduation.

To date, more than 15,000 young Americans have visited China for exchange programs since the 2023 initiative was launched.

"What they learned about the real China on their trips will help dispel misunderstandings and misconceptions," says Shen Xin, vice-president of the CPAFFC.

Xinhua