U.S.-China Policy Advisory Roundtable

This high-level initiative will provide a forum to strengthen public understanding of issues in the U.S.-China relationship and seek to address the strategic mistrust that affects the relationship

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is pleased to announce the public launch of a new initiative, the U.S.-China Policy Advisory Roundtable (USCPAR), chaired by John Chen, chairman and CEO of Sybase, Inc. This high-level initiative will provide a forum to strengthen public understanding of issues in the U.S.-China relationship and seek to address the strategic mistrust that affects the relationship.

The USCPAR and CSIS will produce a series of videos of candid conversations on key issues in the U.S.-China relationship between roundtable members and Chinese opinion leaders. CSIS plans to make the interaction between these experts widely available to netizens in the United States and China to reduce misperceptions and enhance knowledge in both publics about the relationship on issues such as energy cooperation, climate change, public diplomacy, trade, innovation, and food security. USCPAR will also organize meetings between members of the roundtable on issues of importance to the United States and China, with an eye toward building better understanding and a stronger relationship.

“This roundtable is a groundbreaking initiative designed to provide a channel to clear up misunderstandings and build trust between the two sides of this crucial relationship in the twenty-first century. Our economic, cultural, and security connections mean we have to get U.S.-China relations right given the challenging issues we face,” said John Chen, who as chairman and CEO of Sybase, is a leading private-sector expert on U.S.-China business ties.

The first such meeting, between Zhang Yesui, Chinese ambassador to the United States, and Kurt Campbell, U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, covered the importance of public diplomacy and educational exchange as an area of positive cooperation and as a lever for increasing public understanding and people-to-people ties in both nations.

“CSIS is very pleased to share the first video podcast. We are grateful for the willingness of these prominent Americans and Chinese to participate in public conversations that contribute to the health of the U.S.-China relationship,” said Charles Freeman, CSIS Freeman Chair in China Studies, who moderated their conversation.

The U.S.-China Policy Advisory Roundtable is a select group of senior U.S. public- and private-sector leaders, including William Cohen, former U.S. secretary of defense, and John Negroponte, former U.S. Director of National Intelligence. Charles Freeman, CSIS Freeman Chair and former assistant U.S. trade representative for China, will lead the USCPAR on a day-to-day basis. Edward Hearst of Sybase will serve as senior adviser to the roundtable.

USCPAR Roundtable Members

John Chen, Chairman and CEO, Sybase, Inc. (Chairman)

William S. Cohen, Trustee, CSIS; former U.S. Secretary of Defense

Paul D. Conway, Senior Vice President, Cargill

Charles W. Freeman III, Freeman Chair in China Studies, CSIS; former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative

John J. Hamre, President and CEO, CSIS; former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense

Edward Hearst, Vice President, Government Affairs, Sybase (Senior Adviser)

Shephard W. Hill, President, Boeing International; Senior Vice President for Business Development and Strategy and Member of the Executive Council, Boeing

Robert M. Kimmitt, Chairman, Deloitte Center for Cross-Border Investment; former U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury

John D. Negroponte, Vice Chairman, McLarty Associates; former U.S. Director of National Intelligence

David Nelms, Chairman and CEO, Discover Financial Services

Christopher Padilla, Vice President, Governmental Programs, IBM; former U.S. Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade