Ahead of the seminal meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping next week, renowned Sinologist the Hon. Kevin Rudd will speak about the bilateral relationship, what to expect from the meeting, and potential outcomes. Ambassador Rudd will also speak about what the U.S.-China relationship means for Australia, including in the wake of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to China this month.

SPEAKERS

The Hon. Kevin Rudd AC is Australia’s Ambassador to the United States. He was previously President and CEO of the Asia Society and the inaugural President of the Asia Society Policy Institute. He served as Australia’s 26th Prime Minister (2007-2010, 2013) and Foreign Minister (2010-2012). He speaks fluent Mandarin, and has written numerous books, including The Avoidable War: The Dangers of a Catastrophic Conflict between the U.S. and Xi Jinping’s China.

Daniel Russel (moderator) is Vice President for International Security and Diplomacy at the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI). Previously he served as a Diplomat-in-Residence and Senior Fellow with ASPI for a one year term. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service at the U.S. Department of State, he most recently served as the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. He served at the White House as Special Assistant to the President and National Security Council Senior Director for Asian Affairs, where he helped formulate President Obama’s strategic rebalance to the Asia Pacific region, including efforts to strengthen alliances, deepen U.S. engagement with multilateral organizations, and expand cooperation with emerging powers in the region. Among many roles at the Department of State, he served as Director of the Office of Japanese Affairs and U.S. Consul General in Osaka-Kobe.