Luncheon Discussion
Registration 12:15pm
Lunch 12:30pm
Discussion 1:15pm
Close 2:30pm

Over the past two centuries, the Sino-U.S. relationship has gone through periods of dramatic transformation. From the early days of American political and trade engagement with the Qing dynasty to abrupt alienation during the pre-reform period of People’s Republic of China, today the two nations are each other’s largest trading partner. The people-to-people relationship between the U.S. and China is also one of the largest in the contemporary world, with more than two million Chinese tourists visiting the U.S. each year and over 300,000 Chinese students studying there. Yet despite significant milestones reached in Sino-U.S. relations, a lack of strategic trust still exists. There is a much greater need now than ever before for increased mutual understanding and communication as each country defines and pursues its national interests. What lessons can we learn from two centuries of intertwined connections between the two nations?

Carla A. Hills, Chair, National Committee on U.S.-China Relations; Co-Chair, Council on Foreign Relations

Ambassador Carla A. Hills is founding chair and CEO of Hills & Company International Consultants, a firm dedicated to helping U.S. companies overcome obstacles and achieve success in today’s globalized market. She also serves as chair of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, co-chair of the Council on Foreign Relations. Amb. Hills is an advisory board member of the Center for Strategic and International Studies and executive committee member of the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Amb. Hills served as U.S. trade representative in the first Bush Administration. She received her bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, her law degree from Yale University, and studied at Oxford.

Frank Ning, Chairman, SinoChem Group

Frank Ning is chairman of Sinochem Group. Prior to his current post, he was chairman of China Oil and Foodstuffs Corporation (COFCO), president of China Resources Enterprise Ltd., and Vice Chairman and President of China Resources Holdings Co., Ltd. With his years of experience in enterprise management, Mr. Ning has profound insight into corporate strategy, capital operation, management integration and business remodeling. He is a member of the 13th Five-Year Plan National Development Planning Expert Panel, co-chairman of the APEC Business Advisory Council, chairman of the APEC China Business Council and executive director of the International Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Ning received his MBA from the University of Pittsburgh.

Admiral William A. Owens, Former Admiral, U.S. Navy; Former Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

William A. Owens was an admiral in the United States Navy, and in 1994 was appointed vice-chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff — the second-ranking military office in the U.S. — by President Bill Clinton. He previously served as commander of the U.S. Sixth Fleet and deputy chief of naval operations for Resources, Warfare Requirements and Assessments. Adm. Owens was a senior military assistant to Secretaries of Defense Frank Carlucci and Dick Cheney. He is co-founder and chairman of Red Bison LLC. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he received his MA from the University of Oxford and MBA from George Washington University School of Business.

Wang Jisi, President, Institute of International and Strategic Studies, Peking University

Wang Jisi is a professor in the School of International Studies and president of the Institute of International and Strategic Studies at Peking University. He is honorary president of the Chinese Association for American Studies, and has been a member of the Foreign Policy Advisory Committee of China’s Foreign Ministry since 2008. He was also director of the Institute of International Strategic Studies of the Central Party School of the Communist Party. He was a visiting fellow and visiting professor at Oxford University and University of California at Berkeley, as well as a global scholar by Princeton University at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. He obtained his MA from Peking University.

Ronnie C. Chan, Co-Chair, Asia Society (Moderator)

Ronnie C. Chan is chairman of Hang Lung Properties. He is also co-chair of the Asia Society and chairman of the Asia Society Hong Kong Center. In addition, Mr. Chan serves as chairman of the Better Hong Kong Foundation, governing board member of the China-United States Exchange Foundation, advisor and former vice president of the China Development Research Foundation in Beijing. He is director of the board of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and former member of the governing boards of the World Economic Forum. Mr. Chan holds an M.B.A. from the University of Southern California.

Regular Menu
Thinly Sliced Smoked Duck Breast with Sour Cherry Puree
Lemon Herb Crusted Sea Bass with Vine Ripened Tomatoes and Butter Bean Puree
Green Tea and Vanilla Panna Cotta with Red Beans
 

Vegetarian Menu
Caprese Salad - Tomatoes and Mozzarella with Orange-Infused Basil Oil and Balsamic Caviar Pearls
Roasted Cauliflower Steak with Ricotta, Toasted Pine Nuts, Preserved Lemon and Golden Raisins
Green Tea and Vanilla Panna Cotta with Red Beans