Who We Are

For forty-five years, the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations has been at the forefront of the dynamic and expanding Sino-American relationship, helping to shape American foreign policy toward China into one that is in the best long-term interest of this country, and creating a model for addressing issues in an informed and constructive way. The Committee educates Americans and Chinese about the realities of each others' countries, promotes the principles of education, not advocacy, represents the diverse views and facets of American society, and reaches out to government officials, opinion makers and the general public.

While 2011 marked our 45th anniversary, the Year of the Dragon commemorates 40 years since the National Committee welcomed the Chinese ping pong team on their historic trip to the United States, jumpstarting the era "Ping Pong Diplomacy" and establishing the National Committee as the premier organization capable of arranging exchanges between the United States and China. But though we are proud of our legacy as the oldest American organization dedicated to productive U.S.-China relations, the National Committee has adopted fresh approaches to addressing critical and emerging issues shaping Sino-American relations in the 21st century.


To get a sense of how we operate, take a moment to check out what kept us busy in 2011. The slide show above, capturing just a selection of our past year's activities, gives a sense of the diverse programming the National Committee undertakes each and every year to accomplish its mission and goals. (You can learn details about each photo in the slideshow by first rolling over the image, clicking the maximize icon in the lower right corner, and then selecting "show info" on the top right corner. You can also access the slide show on the Flickr website.)

Further, look at the highlights from our 2011 Program Calendar below. Learn more about any specific program by clicking on its link.

2012 is already off to busy start. In January we hosted our third annual Economic Forum at the New York Stock Exchange, featuring a slate of economic experts from China who made their predictions for the Chinese economy in the coming year. We expect to continue our many ongoing programs such as CHINA Town Hall, the Public Intellectuals Program, the Young Leaders Forum, the Foreign Policy Colloquium, Teachers Exchange Program, and others too numerous to name. We hope to expand our programs with the U.S. Congress, and plan to lead multiple delegations to China in the coming year. We will continue with our public programming, including the annual Barnett-Oksenberg Lecture in Shanghai, our Jones Day Lecture Series in New York, and a variety of other topical discussions. As always, we hope you join in these programs as well as the annual Members Program and our Gala Dinner.

We invite you to contact us with questions or comments about our mission, programs or web site at feedback@ncuscr.org, and to support our work by making a donation to the National Committee.

Best wishes in the Year of the Dragon,

Stephen A. Orlins

Stephen A. Orlins, President

 
Highlights from the Committee's 2011 Program Calendar

JANUARY
Forecasting China's Economy in 2011
U.S.-China Track II Economic Dialogue
Luncheon in honor of President Hu Jintao

FEBRUARY
Perils of Proximity: Managing Risk in East Asia: A discussion with Richard Bush, Ian Bremmer, and Kent Calder
Stepping Forth into the World: A public program with historian Edward Rhoads

MARCH
Policy Leaders Orientation Program for U.S.-based officials
Briefing for New Members of Congress

APRIL
Barnett-Oksenberg Lecture on Sino-American Relations featuring Ambassador Jon M. Huntsman, Jr.
Security in the Asia-Pacific: Admiral Robert F. Willard of the U.S. Pacific Command
Coerced Confessions and Wrongful Convictions in the PRC: A discussion with Ira Belkin of the Ford Foundation
Congressional Members Delegation to China
How the Media and the Internet are Changing Chinese Politics: A public program with Prof. Susan Shirk, University of California - San Diego

MAY
The Last Days of Old Beijing: Author Michael Meyer reflects on Beijing's modernization
A Celebration of Anniversaries: 45 years of the National Committee and 40 years of Jan Berris
How to Succeed in Business in China: Dr. Ken Lieberthal on corporate strategy in the PRC
Environmental Law Professionals Exchange and Fellowships

JUNE
Luncheon for Chongqing Mayor Huang Qifan
Foreign Policy Colloquium for U.S.-based Chinese graduate students
Strategic Security Issues in Northeast Asia: Track II Dialogue
Student Leaders Exchange to China
Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad: History and Culture in China

JULY
U.S.-China Track II Economic Dialogue and meetings with senior Chinese leaders
Kissinger on China
New Trends in Philanthropy and Civil Society in China: A roundtable with Shawn Shieh
Dinner for Jiangsu Party Secretary Luo Zhijun

AUGUST
U.S.-China Teachers Exchange Program
Congressional D.C. Staff Delegation to China
Biden’s China Trip and its Implications for U.S.-China Relations: A conference call with Ambassador Jeffrey Bader

SEPTEMBER
Sino-American Dialogue on the Rule of Law & Human Rights
The Secret World of China's Communist Rulers: A book program with journalist Richard McGregor
Public Intellectuals Program: Round III
Luncheon in honor of Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi
Congressional Views on China: Representatives Charles Boustany and Rick Larsen

OCTOBER
45th Anniversary Gala honors Chevron and the Walt Disney Company
China's Changing Labor Market with Professors Albert Park and Kam Wing Chan
Tenth Annual Young Leaders Forum

NOVEMBER
Education Delegation on International Student Services
Policy Leaders Orientation Program for China-based officials
CHINA Town Hall featuring Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski
Ezra Vogel on Deng Xiaoping

DECEMBER
Rockefeller Philanthropy in China: A public program with Prof. Mary Brown Bullock
Congressional District Staff Delegation to China