A U.S.-China Subnational Symposium was held at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, April 23-24, 2019, bringing together over 30 officials from 25 U.S. states who work on China issues in the areas of trade and investment, education, culture, agriculture, and development. In this time of heightened tensions in the U.S.-China relationship, the symposium sought to educate, foster coordination, and develop best practices among participants.
In 2019, the National Committee established a new Track II dialogue between the United States and China to discuss issues relating to the digital economy, in partnership with the Guanchao Cyber Forum, a division of Chinese Internet Security Conference. The dialogue focuses on changes affecting corporations doing business globally and on finding ways that American and Chinese companies can cooperate to address these concerns.
In April 1972, the National Committee made history by hosting the Chinese Table Tennis Team in round two of what became widely known as Ping Pong Diplomacy. The watershed visit — the first-ever of a delegation from the People's Republic of China to the United States — set the Committee on its path of becoming the pre-eminent exchange organization between the United States and China.
Eight months after the Chinese ping pong team visited the United States, the National Committee made history again by hosting the first performing arts company from the People's Republic of China — the Shenyang Acrobatic Troupe — for a four-week, four-city tour.
In September 1973, the National Committee helped facilitate the Philadelphia Orchestra's historic trip to China, paving the way for other American orchestras. The Boston Symphony followed in 1979.
Following a cooling of relations in the early 1990s, the National Committee revitalized the U.S.-China military dialogue, sending a group of retired four-star generals and admirals to China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan in 1994 and 1996. Since then, the success of this program has continued to foster constructive exchange, in addition to inspiring other programs like the U.S.-China Strategic Security Dialogue.
The National Committee brought the first group of Chinese mayors and deputy mayors to U.S. soil in September, 1978. Led by Beijing Deputy Mayor Zhao Pengfei and Shanghai Deputy Mayor Yen Yumin, the 19-member delegation also included city planners, architects, and engineers. The visit was the first of approximately 50 exchanges the Committee has sponsored in the area of municipal and state/provincial management and planning.
In a new collection of interviews, Ambassador Winston Lord chronicles Dr. Kissinger’s diplomatic adventures. Recorded 6/11/19.
In his keynote speech at the U.S. Foreign Policy Colloquium on May 30, 2019, Ambassador Thomas Pickering explains the shift toward multi-polarity in the current world order. Recorded 5/30/19.
Susan A. Thornton delivers the 2019 Barnett-Oksenberg Lecture on Sino-American Relations. Recorded 5/15/19. View Transcript
A discussion focusing on how the United States and China have moved from strategic cooperation to strategic competition, and what can be done to help ease bilateral tensions. Recorded 5/21/19.
