The Policy Leaders Orientation Program builds on the earlier success of the National Committee’s Scholar and Consular Orientation Programs – first begun in 1980 – that provided U.S.-based Chinese students and diplomats, at a key stage in their career development, an introduction to U.S. political, economic, social, and cultural institutions and opportunities to interact with a wide range of American citizens.

The current Policy Leaders Orientation Program, begun in 2007, provides a similar opportunity to mid-career diplomats, officials and policy analysts. Each year two delegations visit the United States – one made up of China-based government officials and think tank scholars and the other made up of U.S.-based Chinese diplomats. The program provides participants with first-hand experience with a broad cross-section of relevant issues as well as opportunities for direct dialogue with Americans outside their particular sphere of expertise.

The 2011 delegation of U.S.-based diplomats visited Williamsburg, VA, Washington, D.C., Gettysburg, Harrisburg, and Hershey, PA, and New York City. The delegation was comprised of representatives from the Chinese embassy in Washington, various consulates throughout the United States, and the Chinese mission to the U.N. in New York. The group met with government officials and experts at think tanks and non-governmental organizations, and visited national monuments and other sites of historical and cultural significance. Participants were hosted at the homes of National Committee members while in Washington, providing an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of life in America.

In November 2011, a delegation of China-based officials, hailing from a variety of ministerial-level offices in Beijing, traveled to the United States for a similar itinerary.