From June 22 to 24, the University of Chicago Center in Beijing welcomed 28 Wanxiang Ambassador Fellows for the 2026 Green Energy Conference, a three-day program featuring expert lectures, policy discussions, and site visits designed to deepen students' understanding of China's rapidly evolving green energy landscape.
As one of the signature components of the Wanxiang Ambassador Fellows Program, the conference brought together scholars, policymakers, and industry leaders, offering students a comprehensive look at the intersection of energy transition, technological innovation, and international cooperation. Building on previous years, this year's program expanded its scope by incorporating discussions on digital economy and AI while providing students with direct engagement with government representatives, research institutions, and leading clean energy companies.
The conference opened at the University of Chicago Center in Beijing, where Executive Director Dr. Zening Ge welcomed the fellows and highlighted the Center's mission of fostering academic exchange between China and the United States. The first session featured Prof. Danxia Xie of Tsinghua University, whose presentation examined how digital technologies and artificial intelligence are reshaping economic growth and creating new opportunities for sustainable development. Through discussions on innovation, productivity, and emerging technologies, students explored the growing connections between the digital economy and the global energy transition.
Day two brought three distinguished speakers from the energy and economic sections of the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, Andrew Duff, Adam Gannaway, and Kaitlin Oujo, who shared U.S. perspectives on energy security, economic policy, and international cooperation. This session provided fellows with a valuable opportunity to engage directly with U.S. government officials, ask questions about current energy and environmental priorities, and better understand how public policy shapes global energy development.
Complementing the academic discussions, students also visited several organizations representing different sectors of China's green economy. At HyperStrong Technology, they learned about advances in battery energy storage systems and the critical role of energy storage in supporting renewable power integration. The following day, fellows visited Hainan Green Finance Institute, where experts introduced innovative approaches to green finance and sustainable investment. The program concluded with a visit to NewLink, where students explored how digital platforms and intelligent infrastructure are accelerating the development of electric vehicle charging networks and low-carbon mobility solutions.
By combining academic lectures with firsthand exposure to government agencies, research institutions, and industry leaders, this year's Green Energy Conference offered fellows a broader and more interdisciplinary perspective on sustainable development than ever before. Students examined green energy not only as a technological challenge, but also through the lenses of economics, finance, diplomacy, and public policy.
The Beijing conference serves as the opening stage of the Wanxiang Ambassador Fellows Program, preparing students for the following weeks of language study, cultural immersion, and professional experiences across China. Through conversations with experts and visits to organizations at the forefront of innovation, fellows gained valuable insights into China's green energy ecosystem while strengthening the cross-cultural understanding that has been at the heart of the Wanxiang Ambassador Fellows Program since its establishment.
