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30th Anniversary of the Establishment of United States-China Relations

Jimmy Carter, Former President, USA; Henry Kissinger, Former Secretary of State, USA; Zbigniew Brzezinski, Former National Security Advisor, USA; Brent Scowcroft, Former National Security Advisory, USA; Chen Qichen, Former Vice Premier, PRC; Tang Jiaxuan, Former State Councilor, PRC; Li Zhaoxing, Former Foreign Minister, PRC; Li Daoyu, Former Ambassador to the United States, PRC

Date & Time

Monday
Jan. 12, 2009
6:00am – 4:00pm ET

Overview

January 1, 2009, marked the 30th anniversary of the establishment of US diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. This commemorative seminar, held in Beijing on January 12-13, featured Jimmy Carter, the former president who displayed courage and foresight in bringing the politically sensitive negotiations with Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping to a successful conclusion, and his National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski.

Other participants included former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, renowned for his role in paving the way for President Nixon's visit to China in 1972, and Lt. Gen. Brent Scowcroft, who served presidents Ford and George H.W. Bush as National Security Advisor. The U.S. Ambassador, Clark Randt, attended, as did Sharon Woodcock, the widow of Leonard Woodcock, who conducted the delicate negotiations in Beijing and who became the first U.S. ambassador to the People's Republic of China. With her were four of her late husband's successors as U.S. ambassadors to China. The seminar was jointly sponsored by the Chinese People's Institute for Foreign Affairs (CPIFA) and the Wilson Center's Kissinger Institute on China and the United States, with the National Committee on US-China Relations serving as a co-sponsor. Many former senior Chinese officials also attended.

Discussions during the two-day seminar ranged from fascinating anecdotes to reflections on the changing strategic rationale underpinning the US-China relationship. Speakers frankly acknowledged the inevitable problems that arise in relations between two such large and important countries but were generally optimistic that wise leaders could sustain continued progress in bilateral ties. Sharon Woodcock recalled the difficult final session between Ambassador Woodcock and Deng Xiaoping when they agreed, just hours before the announcement, to move ahead with normalization despite unresolved differences, an agreement capped by a historic handshake.

Former Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan noted how, despite contentious incidents like the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade and the mid-air collision of a U.S. surveillance aircraft and a Chinese fighter plane, both sides had worked together to ensure that the relationship stayed on a constructive course. Former Secretary of State Kissinger detailed the challengers and opportunities facing the two countries and stressed the importance of working together to preserve a stable and peaceful world. PRC Vice-Foreign Minister He Yafei called for joint actions to address global problems.

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Hosted By

Kissinger Institute on China and the United States

The Kissinger Institute works to ensure that China policy serves American long-term interests and is founded in understanding of historical and cultural factors in bilateral relations and in accurate assessment of the aspirations of China’s government and people.  Read more

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