USCET successfully hosted a second Central Party School Elections Institute in Washington, DC (March 24-28) and in Seattle (March 29-31). This institute focused on the 2018 Midterm elections and addressed timely issues related to US-China strategic distrust. The delegation was able to gain first-hand insights about the implications of the midterm elections, learn how domestic politics impact US-China relations and talk candidly about the US-China relationship and the causes of the heated bilateral tensions.
USCET partnered with American University’s Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies , Pew Research Center, the United States Association of Former Members of Congress, Elliott School of International Affairs of the George Washington University, Center for Naval Analysis and Washington State China Relations Council in Seattle to provide open forums for candid dialogue and exchanges between the CPS delegation and American scholars, legislators, practitioners and experts.
These experts included thirty scholars of American politics and foreign policy, China affairs experts, eight former members of the US Congress, four Maryland Asian American state legislators, and over ten leaders in the private sector.
USCET hosted a dinner in honor of the CPS delegation and to celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations between the US and China. Ambassador Nicholas Platt, who accompanied President Richard Nixon on the historic 1972 trip to China, moderated a conversation with Professor Harry Harding, former dean of the Elliott School and preeminent American scholar on China, and Professor Liu Jianfei, the director of the Institute for International and Strategic Studies at the Central Party School. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for China and Mongolia Alan Turley provided opening remarks and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs and Public Diplomacy Walter Douglas provided a toast to the dinner guests. The dinner was a reminder of more congenial times and hope for a more collaborative future.
During their visit to the Seattle region, the delegation was able to meet and connect with a diverse group of local industry leaders, businesses, economic development organizations, academics, and civic and community leaders. Their itinerary started with a visit to GIX, a first-of-its-kind partnership in the city of Bellevue between the University of Washington and Tsinghua University. The group met with administrators from both universities and participated in a panel discussion on the U.S-China academic and business collaboration in innovation. Afterward, they returned to Seattle and joined a roundtable discussion on regional economic trends, effects of the ongoing trade war on Washington State, the local tech industry, commercial linkages with China, and the role of the Port of Seattle in supporting international trade with China.
“The roundtable discussion gives us a chance to learn more about the trade relations between China and Washington State, which we didn’t really know about before.” one of the delegations said.
Later that evening, delegates had a private dinner with several local and regional experts, including former U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke. On Saturday the group was given a tour of the Boeing Company’s production facility in Everett, twenty-five miles north of Seattle, where the 787 Dreamliner, 767, and 777X are built. The group learned from Boeing’s staff about the company’s past, present, and future planned activities in China.
The delegates came away with a strong positive impression of Washington State and its commercial and cultural linkages with China. Delegates were grateful for the chance to see and hear about a far less fractious, contentious relationship than what often is purported by the “other” Washington. While the ongoing trade dispute has fomented a large amount of negative attention, businesses and civic leaders in Washington are committed to a strong, robust relationship with China, and view this relationship as critical to the state’s long-term economic success.
When the journey was finished, all delegation members said that they had a clearer picture of the US electoral system and US-China relations. Moreover, the delegation members expressed strong interest in continued dialogue this fall when USCET visits the Central Party School in China.
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中美教育基金在华盛顿特区（3月24日-28日）和西雅图（3月29日-31日）成功举办了第二届中央党校选举研讨会。本次研讨会重点关注2018年美国中期选举以及与中美战略不信任相关的话题。中央党校的代表团通过此次研讨会得到了有关中期选举的第一手资料，了解了美国国内政治是如何影响中美关系的，并且坦率地探讨了中美关系以及双边紧张局势加剧的原因。
中美教育基金与美国大学国会和总统研究中心，皮尤研究中心，美国前国会议员协会，乔治华盛顿大学艾略特国际事务学院，海军分析中心和位于西雅图的华盛顿州中国关系委员会共同合作，为中央党校代表团提供了一个与美国学者，立法者，从业者和专家坦诚对话和交流的平台。
这些专家包括三十位研究美国政治和外交政策的学者，中国事务专家，八位美国国会前任成员，四位马里兰州亚裔州议员，以及十多位私营企业领导人。
中美教育基金举办了一场晚宴，以欢迎中央党校代表团并庆祝中美两国建交40周年。 晚宴上，曾于1972年陪同尼克松总统进行历史性访华的尼古拉斯·普拉特大使，与艾略特学院前院长、杰出的中国事务学者哈里·哈丁教授以及中央党校国际战略研究院院长刘建飞教授进行了会谈。 美国商务部中蒙事务助理副部长艾伦·特利致开幕词，美国公共外交与国际事务局副助理国务卿沃尔特·道格拉斯致祝酒词。 此次晚宴让人们想起了中美之前的友好相投，并寄希望于合作共赢的未来。
在访问西雅图地区期间，代表团与各种当地行业领袖，企业，经济发展组织，学者以及公民和社区领导人会面并建立联系。 他们的行程从参观GIX开始，这是由华盛顿大学和清华大学在贝尔维尤市创办的合作伙伴。 代表团还会见了两所大学的管理人，并参加了关于中美学术和商业创新合作的小组讨论。 随后，他们返回西雅图并参加了关于区域经济趋势；中美贸易摩擦对华盛顿州的影响；当地科技产业；中美商业联系以及西雅图港中美国际贸易中作用的圆桌讨论。
“这场圆桌讨论让我们有机会更多地了解中国与华盛顿州之间的贸易关系，我们在这之前并不了解。”其中一位代表说道。
当天晚上，代表团与几位专家共进晚餐，其中包括前美国驻华大使骆家辉。周六，代表团参观了波音公司位于西雅图市以北25英里处的埃弗雷特工厂，那里是波音787梦幻客机，767和777X的建造地。 代表团从波音公司的员工那里了解到了波音公司过去，现在和未来计划在中国开展的活动。
代表团对华盛顿州及其与中国的商业和文化联系印象很好。代表们很高兴有机会了解到一个与首都华盛顿相比更少争议和摩擦的中美关系。虽然正在进行的中美贸易争端引起了大量负面的关注，但是华盛顿州的企业和民间领导人致力于与中国建立强大而稳健的关系，并认为这种关系对美国长期的经济发展至关重要。
此次研讨会结束后，所有代表团成员都表示他们对美国的选举制度和中美关系有了更清晰的了解。 此外，今年秋天中美教育基金将访问中央党校，代表团表示非常期待更进一步的交流。