Following the latest round of Congressional elections in 2010, the National Committee is again organizing a briefing for freshman members of Congress on critical issues in the U.S.-China relationship. Headlined by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft, this session is the third of its kind in as many election cycles. Dr. Albright and General Scowcroft will reprise their roles from 2009, drawing on their vast collective experience to comment on today's bilateral relationship.

The Committee recognized an opportunity to educate incoming members of Congress in this way as a result of the November 2006 elections, which saw a dramatic political shift in both the House and the Senate. Informing policy makers on the issues facing the U.S.-China relationship in order to shape a constructive political dialogue has always been one of the National Committee’s chief missions. Working in conjunction with the Congressional U.S.-China Working Group, the Committee sought to continue this tradition by providing the next generation of Congressional leaders with a comprehensive overview of the bilateral relationship between China and the United States from the perspective of past Administration officials.

In 2007, the Committee invited former Secretaries of State Dr. Henry Kissinger and Dr. Madeleine Albright, two key players in the previous 30 years of diplomacy, to discuss not only their historical dealings with China, but also their views about the future of the relationship. Dr. Kissinger told stories about his experiences establishing relations with China in the early 1970s; he also addressed some of the critical issues, such as massive social and economic changes, impacting China and the Sino-American relationship today. Dr. Albright commented on the future of Sino-American relations and China’s place in the global community – touching on issues such as energy security, military growth and environmental degradation.

The depth and frankness of the session reflected the new members’ keen interest in U.S.-China relations, prompting the Committee to organize another briefing following the 2008 elections. Although Dr. Kissinger was not available for this round, General Scowcroft capably filled his shoes, complementing Dr. Albright’s analysis of the current atmosphere with his perspective on the early years of official diplomatic relations.

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