Policymakers 2001 Seminar and Trip to China

This year the U.S.-China Policy Foundation (USCPF) successfully conducted its third Policymakers Seminar and Trip for a group of congressional staffers interested in expanding their knowledge of China in order to make better-informed foreign policy decisions during the course of their careers. As in previous years, the participants in the May through August series attended seminars on a variety of subjects presented by recognized China experts. The seminars were followed by a seven-day trip to the People's Republic of China.

The bipartisan group of fourteen staffers from both the House of Representatives and Senate participated in six bi-weekly lectures. Presentations were made by Robert Kapp, President, U.S.-China Business Council; Carol Hamrin, Chinese Affairs Specialists, Department of State (retired); Robert Sutter, National Intelligence Officer for East Asia, National Intelligence Council; Thomas Robinson, President, American Asian Research Enterprise; Bates Gill, Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies, Brookings Institution; and Douglas Paal, President, Asia-Pacific Policy Center. Subjects covered included China's political system, economic reforms, security and military affairs, foreign affairs, civil society, and the future of bilateral relations.

Ten of the fourteen seminar participants were able to go on the August educational trip to China, arranged and hosted by the Chinese International Culture Exchange Center (CICEC). The three cities visited during the week-long trip were Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai. A series of useful discussions were held with Chinese government officials, lawmakers, academics, and U.S. expatriate corporate executives, giving the participants a unique opportunity to ask detailed questions about China and U.S.-China relations. In Beijing, meetings were held with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC), and National People's Congress (NPC). In Shanghai, the group met representatives of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress, and visited the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Side-trips were made to sites of historical and contemporary significance in these two cities, as well as Xian, to familiarize staffers with Chinese culture, history, and economic development efforts.

In September, a reunion lunch was held for the ten China trip participants, giving them an opportunity to exchange photos and to discuss their shared experiences in China. Their thoughts and feelings about the foundation's program were overwhelming positive, and we look forward to planning next year's Policymakers Seminar and Trip