Hudson Institute president visits CCG to discuss US-China relations

On July 29, 2019, Kenneth Weinstein, president and CEO of the Hudson Institute and member of the US Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations, visited the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) headquarters in Beijing. The exchange covered a variety of topics, such as the prospects for a Sino-US trade deal and the opportunities and challenges for future Sino-US relations.

More exchange needed to alleviate tensions between the US and China

Wang Huiyao, president of CCG, pointed out that more bilateral exchange, especially between think tanks, is important to alleviate tensions between the US and China.

“This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of China-U.S. diplomatic relations. Now, Sino-US relations have entered a new stage” Wang said.He noted that China and the US share potential common interests and opportunities for cooperation.

It is essential for the US and China to develop good relations

Weinstein said that it is essential for the US and China to develop good relations, even if two countries disagree on some trade issues.

“We have the greatest respect and affection for the people of China, and we would like to see China evolving in a more liberal direction” Weinstein said.

He also pointed out that there would be no real long-term beneficiaries from a deterioration of US-China relations, giving all the more reason for both countries to work together.

Weinstein emphasized that the US and China have a broad relationship spanning culture, economics and diplomacy. He said that the US hopes that the two countries can rebalance their relationship.

Weinstein said that China is certainly not an enemy of America. He added that it is impossible for the US to disengage from China.

CCG experts who participated in the discussion included:

Su Ge, CCG advisor, co-chair of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC), chairman of the China National Committee of the Pacific Economic Cooperation (CNCPEC), former Chinese ambassador to Iceland.

Lan Lijun, president of the China Foundation for International Studies, former Chinese ambassador to Canada.

Huo Jianguo, senior fellow of CCG, former president of Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation.

Wang Yong, non-resident senior fellow of CCG, director and professor, Center for International Political Economy, Peking University.

Victor Gao, vice president of CCG.

Lv Xiang, non-resident senior fellow of CCG, research fellow at the Institute of World Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

CCG and the Hudson Institute have maintained steady cooperation for a number of years. Most notably, the two think tanks hosted a joint symposium during CCG’s round of US “track II diplomacy” activities in September 2018. This event saw CCG President Wang Huiyao and CCG Vice President Miao Lu present CCG’s report China-US trade relations and challenges: past, present, future and policy options and participate in a panel discussion with Hudson Institute fellows on Sino-US trade tensions. On May 1st,2019, the CCG expert delegation visited the Hudson Institute at the invitation of the President and CEO of the Institute Kenneth Weinstein to exchange ideas on issues, such as WTO reform and multilateral trade mechanism.

About Hudson Institute

The Hudson Institute is one of the three main conservative think tanks in the US and has significant influence with the current US administration as a favored think tank. Kenneth Weinstein, president and CEO of the Hudson Institute, was named by President Trump to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations. Michael Pillsbury, Director of Chinese Strategy at the Hudson Institute and trusted advisor of former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, has been praised by President Trump as “the most authoritative expert on China”.