Jessica Chen Weiss, Michael J. Zak Professor for China and Asia-Pacific Studies at Cornell University and Director of the Cornell Levinson Program in China and Asia-Pacific Studies, participated in an in-person, closed-door roundtable at Asia Society's New York headquarters with a ministerial-level delegation from the People’s Republic of China on January 8.
This meeting was part of an ongoing “track 1.5 dialogue” initiative between Asia Society and the International Department of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee. The delegation from China, which included officials from both the party and government, was led by Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department.
Liu was formerly the chief spokesperson for the PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the former director-general of its Information Department. Liu has served as Chinese ambassador to the Philippines and Indonesia from 2009 to 2014.
Liu was the first senior CPC official to visit the US since the summit meeting between President Xi and Biden in San Francisco last November.
The group held frank and constructive discussions on a range of subjects including geopolitics, politics, economics, technology, and cultural exchanges. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continuing this dialogue, which seeks to promote increased understanding and more effective and open communication between the two countries.
