Tuesday, November 10, 2026
The National Committee on U.S.-China Relations (NCUSCR) will hold our annual Gala Dinner on Tuesday, November 10, in New York City, honoring Stephen A. Schwarzman, chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Blackstone and founding trustee of Schwarzman Scholars, and Stephen A. Orlins, outgoing NCUSCR president.
We are pleased to announce that the program will also feature:
- A keynote from The Honorable Scott Bessent, Secretary of the Treasury, on the U.S.-China economic relationship
- Remarks by Xie Feng, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the United States
- A musical performance by Danny Knicely and Chao Tian, blending Appalachian and traditional Chinese dulcimer music
ABOUT THE HONOREES
Stephen Schwarzman is one of the most significant private contributors to U.S.-China people-to-people exchange. In both business and philanthropy, Mr. Schwarzman has dedicated himself to tackling big problems with transformative solutions. In 2013, he founded Schwarzman Scholars at Tsinghua University in Beijing to give the most talented future leaders the power to change the course of history through deep engagement with China. He personally donated $100 million to launch the program and led a campaign to raise $500 million more to endow it in perpetuity—the single largest charitable effort in China’s history from largely international donors. In the years since, the program has equipped more than 1,500 young leaders from over 100 countries with the skills and network to navigate an increasingly complex world.
NCUSCR has been part of Schwarzman Scholars from the very beginning. Steve Orlins served on the advisory board before the college broke ground, and over the past decade our partnership has kept hundreds of Schwarzman alumni engaged with China and U.S.-China relations through seminars, expert briefings, and convenings on four continents.
Stephen Orlins will step down following this year’s Gala after more than two decades as NCUSCR president. His career in public service began at the U.S. Department of State, where he served on the legal team that established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China in 1979. Under his leadership, NCUSCR has navigated some of the most turbulent chapters in the bilateral relationship and significantly expanded our impact. Mr. Orlins launched seven Track II Dialogues, including on issues such as economics and trade, human rights, healthcare, and climate finance and energy transition; dramatically expanded Congressional engagement with China; and created CHINA Town Hall, our flagship public education initiative which has reached over ten million viewers and brought the conversation about U.S.-China relations directly into communities across the United States. Mr. Orlins is an unwavering advocate for the power of engagement and holds the conviction that, especially in difficult moments, sustained dialogue between American and Chinese citizens is critical.
ABOUT NCUSCR
The National Committee on United States-China Relations fosters communication and
exchange between the United States and China in support of productive bilateral
relations and U.S. national interests. We achieve our mission through public educational programming, track II dialogues, policymaker engagement, and exchanges between American and Chinese counterparts on issues of importance to the U.S.-China relationship, and supporting next-generation leadership development.
2026 Gala Sponsors
Honoree & Sponsor
Cornerstone Level Sponsors
Chair Level Sponsors
Leader Level Sponsors
Benefactor Level Sponsors
The Honorable Barbara H. Franklin
Broadcom Inc.
Cargill
The Estée Lauder Companies
Ruth Porat & Anthony Paduano
Gary Rieschel
Goldman Sachs
Visa Inc.
Yihai USA
Patron Level Sponsors
Amgen Inc.
Olivier Brandicourt
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Ambassador Carla A. Hills
N4XT Experiences Inc.
Leader Level Ticket Holders
Charles and Lynn Zhang
Lily M. Fan
Elizabeth D. Knup
Bob Pietrzak
Ambassador Craig Allen
Ambassador Charlene Barshefsky
Ambassador Maxwell S. Baucus
Admiral Dennis C. Blair
Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch
Secretary W. Michael Blumenthal
Representative Charles W. Boustany Jr.
Mr. Neil Bush
Secretary Elaine L. Chao
Secretary William S. Cohen
Mr. Thomas Donilon
Secretary Barbara H. Franklin
Ambassador Michael Froman
The Honorable Stephen J. Hadley
Ambassador Carla A. Hills
Governor Thomas H. Kean
Admiral Timothy J. Keating
Dr. Jim Yong Kim
Secretary Jacob J. Lew
Governor Gary F. Locke
Admiral Samuel J. Locklear III
Ambassador Winston Lord
Ambassador John Negroponte
Secretary Leon E. Panetta
Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr.
Secretary William J. Perry
Admiral Joseph W. Prueher
Ambassador Clark T. Randt Jr.
The Honorable J. Stapleton Roy
The Honorable Robert E. Rubin
Mr. Daniel R. Russel
Ambassador Susan C. Schwab
Ms. Susan Ashton Thornton
Ambassador Kurt Tong