The CCG’s ‘track-II’ diplomacy in America (XII) – The CCG team visited the Heritage Foundation, the conservative party’s most important think tank

Lastly, the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) team arrived at its final stop, the famous think tank of the Trump administration – the Heritage Foundation. During the visit, CCG shared its views with Dr. Feulner on the relations between China and America, the cooperation of the two countries on infrastructure construction, China’s investment in America and the cultural exchange between the two countries.

The Heritage Foundation has been one of the most successful think tanks of the conservative party in America. It was founded by Dr. Edwin J. Feulner in 1973 and its headquarter is in Washington D.C. In history, the Heritage Foundation had a deep influence on the Reagan’s government and the George Bush’s government. Eleven members of the foundation used to work for Reagan and the National Missile Defense System of the government of George Bush was also initiated by the Heritage Foundation. Now it is the biggest and most influential think tank in America, It also has a wide influence around the globe. To date, the Heritage Foundation has over several hundred thousand members and a deep impact on the choice of voters in many areas of America. The Heritage Foundation played an important role in Trump’s presidential campaign and its advice affects the policies of America on the investment in America, foreign trade, migration and national defense.

In conversation, Dr. Wang Huiyao, the President of CCG stressed the importance of the two countries’ cooperation and showed Dr. Feulner the benefits of the two countries’ cooperation on infrastructure construction, the Chinese companies’ investment in America, the Belt and Road Initiatives as well as the two countries’ cultural exchange through migration, tourism and etc.

In response, Dr. Feulner highly recognized the significance of CCG’s visit to America and the influence of the two think tanks’ communication on the policies of the two countries. Additionally, he introduced to the CCG team to the operation and management of the foundation and some activities of the American government he currently is taking part in.

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.

The profile of Edwin J. Feulner

Edwin J. Feulner, the founder and the present President of the Heritage Foundation. Dr.  Feulner began his Washington career as analyst for the Center for Strategic and International Studies. After Dr. Feulner became president, he changed the direction of the Heritage Foundation. He transformed the foundation from a small policy think tank into a booming enterprise of conservative ideals, eventually creating the think tank the New York Times calls ‘the Parthenon of the conservative metropolis’.

The foundation took a leading role in the conservative movement during the presidency of Ronald Reagan and it continued to have a significant influence in U.S. public policy making and is considered to be one of the most influential conservative research organization in the United States.

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Feulner