Although relations between the United States and China during the 20th and 21st centuries have varied from respect and praise to disenchantment and censure, the people of both nations have maintained a high regard for one another. America has great respect for China’s civilization, history, and culture, while China has admired the optimism, growth, and energy of American society.
Allied during the two world wars, the United States and China drifted apart during the Cold War. Since the reestablishment of relations in 1972, disagreements have continued to cause occasional friction. Unfortunately, these disputes have been exacerbated by misunderstandings and misperceptions that stem from different cultural and political histories.
SEEKING TO PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING
In response to these misunderstandings, the U.S.-China Policy Foundation (USCPF) was founded in 1995 to ensure the continued improvement of U.S.-China relations. Although other organizations in the United States strive to further the understanding of China, this is the first public educational organization devoted exclusively to the betterment of U.S.-China policy. The Foundation works closely with scholars, policymakers, and the general public all over the world to achieve a deeper level of communication, understanding, and friendship.
USCPF 2012 PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES
In 2012, the USCPF hosted a welcome luncheon for Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, sent a senior Congressional staff member delegation on an educational trip to China, hosted several visiting Chinese delegations, produced TV programs on prevalent issues in U.S.-China relations, and will celebrate the Foundation’s 17th anniversary at our annual gala dinner. These programs are a sample of the unique and diverse programs the USCPF undertakes annually to serve our mission of promoting a U.S.-China relationship based on mutual understanding and trust. We look forward to continuing and expanding these programs in 2012 and in future years to come.
You can learn more about the past year’s events and programs below or by visiting our events page. As always, we are very interested in hearing your feedback. If you have any questions or comments about the USCPF, feel free to contact us by email at uscpf@uscpf.org.
RECENT EVENTS:
August 4-14, 2012 USCPF SENDS CONGRESSIONAL STAFF MEMBERS ON EDUCATIONAL TRIP TO BEIJING, GUILIN, AND HONG KONG
During the August Congressional recess, the USCPF completed another successful Policymakers Trip to China program, sending a bipartisan delegation of chiefs of staff and senior staff from the U.S. Senate & House on a ten-day educational tour of China. Hosted by the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA) and the Hong Kong Information Services Department, the trip brought the ten delegation members to Beijing, Guilin and Hong Kong, where they learned firsthand about Chinese history, culture, and society.
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August 16, 2012 AMBASSADOR JAMES KEITH JOINS USCPF’S EXECUTIVE BOARD
The U.S.-China Policy Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that has supported better Sino-U.S. relations over the past 17 years in the nation’s capital, announced today that former U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia and U.S. Consul General in Hong Kong, the Honorable James Keith, has joined USCPF’s executive board and will help guide its work of promoting mutual understanding between China and the United States. Keith’s addition and 31-year experience in the U.S. Foreign Service will enable the Foundation to continue offering meaningful programs and events centered around the most important bilateral relationship in the world today.
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July 24, 2012 USCPF HOSTS SEND-OFF DINNER FOR AUGUST 2012 CONGRESSIONAL POLICYMAKERS DELEGATION
On July 24, 2012, the USCPF hosted a send-off dinner at the Hunan Dynasty Restaurant for this year’s senior Congressional staff delegation, before their departure on a ten-day program that will take them to Beijing, Guilin and Hong Kong. We were pleased to have Mr. Donald Tong, Hong Kong Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs in the United States, as the guest of honor.
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July 17, 2012 USCPF HOSTS TALK FOR CHINESE HIGH SCHOOL EXCHANGE STUDENTS
On Tuesday, July 17, 2012, the USCPF hosted a briefing at our offices in Washington, D.C., followed by lunch, for a 21-person delegation of Chinese high school exchange students from the Hainan No. 1 High School visiting the United States on a language and cultural immersion program.
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May 22, 2012 USCPF WELCOMES AMBASSADOR LU SHUMIN ANDDELEGATION AT LUNCHEON
On Tuesday, May 22, 2012, the USCPF hosted a lunch reception at the Cosmos Club to welcome Ambassador Lu Shumin, vice president of the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA), and members of his delegation during their visit to Washington.
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May 5, 2012 DR. CHI WANG AT CHINA INSTITUTE TO TALK ABOUT NEWBOOK: A COMPELLING JOURNEY FROM PEKING TO WASHINGTON
On Saturday, May 5, 2012, the Renwen Society of the China Institute presented a special lecture and book signing by Dr. Chi Wang in New York about his book, A Compelling Journey from Peking to Washington: Building a New Life in America. The book depicts Wang’s extraordinary childhood as the son of a prominent Chinese government official and general, and his experiences living through one of the most turbulent periods in Chinese history, including the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong and mainland China and the Chinese civil war.
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February 15, 2012 USCPF WELCOMES CHINESE VICE PRESIDENT XI JINPING AT LUNCHEON
On Wednesday, February 15, 2012, the U.S.-China Policy Foundation cooperated with the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, the U.S.-China Business Council, and several other organizations to host a reception and luncheon in honor of Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, which was attended by nearly 600 distinguished guests.
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November 3, 2011 THE U.S.-CHINA POLICY FOUNDATION’S 16TH ANNUAL GALA DINNER
The U.S.-China Policy Foundation hosted its 16th Annual Gala Dinner on November 3, 2011 in downtown Washington, D.C. at the historical Mayflower Renaissance Hotel. His Excellency Ambassador Zhang Yesui joined us at this year’s event, where we celebrated the Foundation’s advancements in fostering understanding between the peoples of the United States and China and recognized outstanding service to America-China relations.
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September 15, 2011 USCPF PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ROUNDTABLE: THE OUTLOOK IN TAIWAN
On September 15, the USCPF hosted the Foundation’s regular “Public Diplomacy Roundtable” series, which gathers distinguished China scholars together to discuss issues pertaining to modern China & U.S.-China relations. The September event focused on current developments in Taiwan, the upcoming 2012 Taiwanese presidential election, and the progress of U.S.-China-Taiwan relations. Featured speakers included Dr. Richard C. Bush of the Brookings Institution, Ms. Bonnie S. Glaser of CSIS, Dr. Douglas H. Paal of the Carnegie Endowment, and Dr. Robert G. Sutter of George Washington University, with the roundtable discussion moderated by Ambassador Chas W. Freeman, Jr.
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August 6-15, 2011 USCPF SENDS CONGRESSIONAL STAFF MEMBERS ON EDUCATIONAL TRIP TO BEIJING, QINGHAI, AND TIBET
During the August Congressional recess, the USCPF completed another successful Policymakers Trip to China program, sending nine staff members from the U.S. House & Senate on a ten-day educational tour of China. Hosted by the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA), the educational trip brought the participants to Beijing, western Qinghai province, and Tibet. The visit focused on exploring China’s ethnic minority cultures & western landscapes.
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August 9, 2011 USCPF HONORS MINISTER COUNSELOR ZHANG PING AT FAREWELL LUNCHEON
On Tuesday, August 9th, 2011, the U.S.-China Policy Foundation hosted a farewell luncheon for Minister Counselor Zhang Ping, Chief of the Congressional Affairs section at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China. Serving at the Embassy in Washington for four years, Minister Zhang has been an invaluable source of assistance in arranging the Foundation’s Policymakers program.
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October 2011 DR. CHI WANG PUBLISHES NEW MEMOIR, “A COMPELLING JOURNEY FROM PEKING TO WASHINGTON”
USCPF is pleased to announce this recent publication by USCPF President and Co-Chair Dr. Chi Wang. The memoir recounts the personal journey of Chi Wang – his childhood as a student in pre-revolutionary China, his journey to America, and his pursuit of a new life, education, and career in the nation’s capital.
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May 25, 2011 PANEL DISCUSSION AND LUNCHEON CELEBRATING CHINA DAILY’S 30TH ANNIVERSARY
The USCPF co-hosted a private panel discussion and luncheon from 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Willard InterContinental Hotel in downtown, Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, May 25. The event celebrated the 30th anniversary of China Daily - China’s national English-language newspaper. Featured speakers included Ambassador Chas W. Freeman, Jr., Dr. Kenneth G. Lieberthal, Ambassador J. Stapleton Roy, Ambassador James R. Sasser and Ambassador Richard Solomon.
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April 16-23, 2011 POLICYMAKERS DELEGATION TO CHINA
The USCPF led a delegation of Congressional staffers to visit China from April 16 – 23, 2011. The participants, most of whom work for newly elected members of the 112th U.S. Congress, will tour Beijing and Shanghai and attend meetings at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and more.
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January 20, 2011 WELCOME LUNCHEON FOR CHINESE PRESIDENT HU JINTAO
On January 20, the USCPF welcomed President Hu Jintao at a luncheon during his official state visit to Washington, D.C.
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November 2011 NEW EDITION OF WASHINGTON JOURNAL OF MODERN CHINA PUBLISHED
The USCPF released the most recent edition of the Washington Journal of Modern China (volume 10, number 1) in November.
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2011 NEW EPISODES OF USCPF’S TV PROGRAM, CHINA FORUM, RELEASED
The U.S.-China Policy Foundation has recently produced new episodes of its television program, China Forum. China Forum’s most recent broadcasts include conversations with Dr. Richard Bush, Dr. Robert Sutter, Ms. Bonnie Glaser, Dr. David Lampton, and Dr. Cheng Li.