Bryant commemorates 30th anniversary of U.S.-China relations with Feb. 6 presentations on economic and trade relations

February 4th, 2009

SMITHFIELD, R.I.  -This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and China.

To commemorate this historic milestone, the public is invited to attend a presentation the morning of Friday, Feb. 6, that will explore the impact of U.S.-China relations over the past three decades. The event is sponsored by Bryant University's U.S.-China Institute and the Confucius Institute in partnership with the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, Hanban (the Chinese Language Council International) and the World Affairs Council of Rhode Island.

The event will be held on the Bryant campus in Stepan Grand Hall in the George E. Bello Center for Information and Technology. There is no charge to attend, but seating is limited. Contact Denise Schwerin at dschweri@bryant.edu or (401) 232-6884 by 5 pm. Thursday, Feb. 5.

Schedule

• 9: 30 a.m. Breakfast and registration
• 10:10 a.m. Welcoming remarks, Hong Yang, director, U.S.-China Institute, Confucius Institute at Bryant University
• 10:20 a.m. President's address, Ronald K. Machtley, president, Bryant University
• 10:40 a.m. Keynote address: "U.S.-China Economic and Trade Relations," Wendy Cai-Lee, managing director, Chinese Services Group, Deloitte LLP
• 11:45 a.m. Luncheon (provided)
• 12:35 p.m. Keynote address: "China's First Special Economic Development Zone in 1978 and Its Founder, Yuan Geng," Tu Qiao (in Chinese with English translation), journalist and biographer of Yuan Geng

The commemoration then moves to downtown Providence for a series of invitation-only events that include a keynote presentation by Jianmin Wu, China's senior diplomat for 42 years, and a dazzling finale presented by the award-winning Art Troupe of the High School Affiliated with Renmin University of Beijing. (The troupe also will perform on the Bryant campus Saturday, Feb. 7. That performance is free and open to the public. For details, see the press release.)

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Keywords: Confucius Institute, events, U.S.- China Institute