As Asia Society Texas Center opens its doors, we build upon a distinguished history of hosting policy programs that "prepar[e] Asians and Americans for a shared future." It is in this tradition that we present this event featuring United States Secretary of State James A. Baker, III. Secretary Baker, in conversation with Charles C. Foster, Chairman of Asia Society Texas Center, will reflect upon his experience in Asia and offer unique perspectives on United States-China policy.

Please note: This event is by invitation only, but will also be a free live webcast at http://asiasociety.org/texas/live at 10:30 am CT on Thursday, April 12.

Event Location

Hotel ZaZa, Houston
Phantom Ballroom C
5701 Main Street
Houston, TX 77005

About James A. Baker, III

James A. Baker, III, has served in senior government positions under three United States presidents. He was the nation's 61st secretary of state from January 1989 through August 1992 under President George H.W. Bush. During his tenure at the State Department, he traveled to 90 foreign countries as the United States confronted the unprecedented challenges and opportunities of the post–Cold War era.

Secretary Baker served as the 67th secretary of the treasury from 1985 to 1988 under President Ronald Reagan. As treasury secretary, he was also chairman of the President's Economic Policy Council. From 1981 to 1985, he served as White House Chief of Staff to President Reagan. His record of public service began in 1975 as Under Secretary of Commerce to President Gerald Ford. It concluded with his service as White House Chief of Staff and Senior Counselor to President Bush from August 1992 to January 1993.

Presently, he is a senior partner in the law firm of Baker Botts. Additionally, he is honorary chairman of the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University and serves on the board of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Since March 2006, Secretary Baker and former United States Congressman Lee H. Hamilton have served as the co-chairs of the Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan blue-ribbon panel examining a forward-looking approach to Iraq.

Welcome and Introduction

Henrietta H. Fore, Co-Chair of Asia Society, is Chairman and CEO of Holsman International, an investment and management company in American and international business. From 2007 to 2009, she was Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Director of The Office of U.S. Foreign Assistance, holding the equivalent rank as Deputy Secretary of State. Between 2005 and 2007 Mrs. Fore served as Undersecretary of State for Management, the Chief Operating Officer. She was the 37th Director of The United States Mint in the Department of Treasury from August 2001 to August 2005. She received the Distinguished Service Award in 2009, the highest honor the Secretary of State can bestow, and the Alexander Hamilton Award in 2005. Between 1989 and 1992, Mrs. Fore was Assistant Administrator for Asia and Private Enterprise and served as the Founding Chair of the US-Asia Environmental Partnership announced in Singapore by President George H.W. Bush.

Facilitator

Charles C. Foster is Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of FosterQuan, LLP, the second-largest immigration law firm in the United States. In addition to chairing the board of Asia Society Texas Center, he is a Trustee of Asia Society New York and Honorary Consul-General of the Kingdom of Thailand. Mr. Foster is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations in New York and a Director of Greater Houston Partnership. During the 2000 Presidential campaign, he served as principal adviser to George W. Bush on U.S. immigration policy. He is Board member and former President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and serves as Chairman of the American Bar Association Coordinating Committee on Immigration Law. A native of Galveston, Mr. Foster earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Texas and a law degree from University of Texas School of Law.