The CCG’s ‘track-II’ diplomacy in America (XI) -– CCG visited the biggest think tank of the Democratic Party, American Center for Progress

Recently, the team of Center for China and Globalization (CCG) visited the think tank of the Democratic Party, Center for American Progress. During the visit, the team exchanged opinions with Andy Green, the Head of Economic Policy Research, and Brian Harding, the Head of Asia and Southeast Asia Study on issues such as China-U.S. relations, the two countries’ cooperation on infrastructure construction, the cooperation and development of think tanks, etc.

The Center for American Progress is the biggest think tank of the Democratic Party of America, and it has over 300 staff members. It is the main policy advisor to the Democratic Party. It has a deep impact on the policy of the American government, in particular, the government led by the Democratic Party. The former President of Center for American Progress John Podesta previously served as White House Chief of Staff to President Bill Clinton and Counselor to President Barack Obama. He is also former chairman of the 2016 Hilary Clinton presidential campaign.

The experts at Center for American Progress introduced the team of CCG to their ‘Marshall Plan.’ The plan targets the improvement of American infrastructure and the revival of the middle class. In exchange, Dr. Wang Huiyao showed them the report of CCG on the cooperation of the two countries’ infrastructure construction. As the team of CCG found out, the plan of Center for American Progress was similar to the cooperation on infrastructure construction proposed by CCG. Therefore, the team of CCG advised to propel the two countries’ cooperation in this area.

CCG’s visit to Center for American Progress facilitated the mutual understanding of Chinese and American think tanks. Furthermore, the two sides’ communication can help enlarge the Democratic Party’s knowledge of China.

Prior to President Trump’s visit to China and following the first- round cultural and social communication between China and America led by Liu Yandong, the Vice Premier of State Council, the cultural exchange between the two countries has been the main force in driving the long-term development of the two countries’ relations. Through this visit, CCG aims to deepen the mutual trust and understanding between the two countries and help think tanks play a bigger role in influencing government policies and the development of companies.

CCG’s week-long journey to America started on Sep 29 and will last until Oct 4. During the journey, the team of CCG visited Council on Foreign Relations, Asia Society, National Committee on United States-China Relations and Committee of 100 in New York. In Washington D.C, it organized several symposiums with world-class think tanks in the U.S., which included Asia Society Policy Study Institute, AEI, the Heritage Foundation, Center for American Progress, American Migration Policy Institute, Brookings Institute, CSIS, Wilson Center Kissinger Institute on China, and PIIE.

As a leading independent think tank from China, CCG’s visit has facilitated and materialized the cultural exchange and cooperation between China and America. The CCG team include includes the following participants: Wang Huiyao, the President of CCG, Miao Lu, the Secretary-General of CCG, Li Weifeng, the Executive Secretary-General of CCG, Tang Beijie, the Deputy Secretary-General, Xiao Huilin, the Senior Researcher of CCG, Wang Zhi, the Non-Resident Senior Fellow of CCG, and Li Yeqing, the Non-Resident Senior Fellow.