Stephen Orlins (center), president of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, and Yang Bin (right), dean of Beijing-based Tsinghua University’s Institute for Sustainable Social Value, speak at a dialogue on China-U.S. business cooperation and the global green transition during the 2026 Sustainability Global Leaders Conference in Shanghai on October 20 (COURTESY PHOTO)  

Cooperation between China and the United States in clean energy, climate action and AI can help unlock new opportunities for sustainable development, experts said at the 2026 Sustainability Global Leaders Conference in Shanghai on October 20. The event brought together participants from government, business, academia and other sectors to explore practical approaches to sustainable development.  

Speaking during a dialogue themed Building a Resilient Future Together: Global Governance, Innovation-Driven Growth, and Industrial Upgrading, Stephen Orlins, president of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, and Yang Bin, dean of Beijing-based Tsinghua University’s Institute for Sustainable Social Value, explored how businesses can turn shared priorities into practical cooperation.   

Orlins emphasized that climate change remains an area in which Chinese and American experts share considerable common ground. He called for clearer understandings of national security boundaries, arguing that most green technologies should not be treated as national security concerns.   

Yang called on business leaders and policymakers to develop greater empathy and consider issues from the other side’s perspective. Such an approach, he said, can help people better understand differing positions, formulate more effective strategies and improve communication.  

He also stressed the importance of looking beyond short-term political cycles. Progress in global sustainability requires patience and a long-term commitment, even when immediate results are difficult to achieve.  

Electric vehicles (EVs) illustrate the potential benefits. Orlins pointed to China’s growing use of EVs and improvements in urban air quality, arguing that access to Chinese technology could help the U.S. accelerate its own transition to cleaner transportation.  

Yang offered a complementary perspective, noting that different economies possess different strengths. China has strong manufacturing capabilities, while the U.S. excels in basic research and fundamental science. Japan and several Nordic countries also offer experience in areas including advanced materials and precision manufacturing. Some other European countries have developed regulatory frameworks from which others can learn.   

The goal, Yang said, should be to build effective mechanisms for collaboration that allow countries to draw on their respective strengths and achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.  

For Chinese businesses, this also means adapting to a changing international role. As Chinese companies have become strong competitors in many industries, they now need to explore how to turn their technological advantages into opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation, Yang said.  

The dialogue also examined the challenges of AI governance, an area in which international cooperation is increasingly important.  

Orlins described the debate over AI regulation in the U.S. as “active and multifaceted,” with technology companies holding differing positions on regulation, competition and access to technology. He welcomed the recent agreement by the current Chinese and U.S. presidents to establish a dialogue on AI safety, expressing hope that experts and other stakeholders would be involved. 

Yang argued that governments should address AI risks proactively rather than wait for a major accident to prompt action. While researchers and think tanks have discussed AI governance for years, the issue has recently gained greater urgency in public and political debate, he said.   

He also emphasized that global AI governance must extend beyond China and the U.S. Countries in the Global South have raised concerns about the concentration of AI capabilities in a small number of companies and countries, calling for broader access to the benefits of the technology.     

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon  

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