The world's two largest economies, American and China, share an ocean, a future, and a pivotal relationship for the world's security. Will they build a secure future world? U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and the pricing of the Renminbi are only two of several contentious issues in current U.S.-China relations. The future calls for increased interaction between these two countries in a changing international context. How can China and the United States build the necessary trust to defuse tensions and cooperate in key areas of mutual concern?"
Bio
David M. Finkelstein
Dr. David Finkelstein is vice president and director of CNA China Studies, which focuses on U.S.-China relations, China's changing role in the world order, and emerging trends within China.
A long-time student of Chinese and Asian affairs, Finkelstein is widely published. He is co-editor of Civil-Military Relations in Today's China: Swimming in a New Sea (M.E. Sharpe, June 2006), China's Revolution in Doctrinal Affairs: Recent Trends in the Operational Art of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (CNA, 2005), Chinese Warfighting: The PLA Experience Since 1949 (M.E. Sharpe, 2003), and China's Leadership in the 21st Century: The Rise of the Fourth Generation (M.E. Sharpe, 2002).
A retired U.S. Army officer, Finkelstein is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College. He has held command and staff positions at the platoon, company, battalion, and Major Army Command levels. He also held significant China-related positions at the Pentagon as an advisor to the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff. He has served on the faculty at West Point, where he taught Chinese history. Finkelstein received his Ph.D. in Chinese history from Princeton University and studied Mandarin at Nankai University in Tianjin, China.
David Firestein
David J. Firestein is the EastWest Institute's Vice President for the Strategic Trust-Building Initiative and Track 2 Diplomacy; in this capacity, he leads EWI's China, Russia and United States programs. A career U.S. diplomat from 1992 to 2010, Firestein is an expert in China, Russia, public diplomacy and U.S. politics. In his Foreign Service career, he served at the U.S. embassies in Beijing (5 years) and Moscow (4 years). Firestein speaks near native-level Chinese and fluent Russian and has interpreted for senior U.S. officials in both languages.
Firestein is the author or co-author of three books on China, including two China-published bestsellers: Pacific Reflections: Essays on Chinese and American Society and Culture (1997); and Here and There: 81 Conversations about China and America (2004). In 1995-1996, Firestein wrote a column for the Beijing Youth Daily; he was the first foreigner ever to have a column in a PRC newspaper. From 2000 to 2002, Firestein wrote over forty articles, mostly on U.S. politics and society, for Russian newspapers and magazines. In all, he has published some 130 articles in Chinese and Russian publications, including the Global Times, the China Youth Daily, the Legal Times, Noviye Izvestiya and other major periodicals. In the United States, Firestein's recent commentary has appeared in the Dallas Morning News and the Austin American-Statesman.
Amb. Charles W. Freeman Jr.
Ambassador Chas. W. Freeman is former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and was Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs under President Clinton. After 30 years as a U.S. diplomat, he became the chairman of Projects International in 1995. He is also currently president of the Middle East Policy Council, co-chair of the U.S.-China Policy Foundation, vice-chair of the Atlantic Council, a trustee of the Institute for Defense Analyses - and a director of the Pacific Pension Institute. Amb. Freeman is the recipient of two Distinguished Public Service Awards, three Presidential Meritorious Service Awards, and a Distinguished Honor Award.
Martin Lees
Martin Lees graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Cambridge University in 1964 and has a Diploma in European Studies from the College of Europe in Bruges. After some years in industry, he joined OECD to manage programs on Cooperation in Science and Technology and on Innovation in the Procedures and Structures of Government. In 1972, he was responsible at OECD for the design and launching of the "Futures Project" on the Future of the Advanced Industrial Societies in Harmony with that of the Developing Countries. He then served at the United Nations as Executive Director of the Financing System for Science and Technology for Development and in 1982 was appointed Assistant Secretary General. During this period he was responsible for the establishment of the InterAction Council of former Heads of State and Government. Since 1983, he has managed several high level advisory programs for the leadership of China, including "China and the World in the Nineties"from 1988 to 1998 and the establishment in 1991 of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED). From 1991-1996 he managed programs of cooperation with the Newly Independent States of the Former Soviet Union and from 1995 to 2008 he was Moderator of the International Advisory Board of the Toyota Motor Corporation. From 2001 to 2005 he was Rector of the University for Peace of the United Nations in Costa Rica, guiding its revitalization and launching Masters programs on issues of peace, security and sustainable development. From 2008 to 2010 he was Secretary General of the Club of Rome. He speaks and lectures in many parts of the world and is now engaged in international projects on climate change, sustainable development, international relations and peace and security.
Hongxia Wei
Wei Hongxia (Victoria) is a visiting scholar in Carnegie's Asia Program where her research focuses on U.S. policy toward East Asia, particularly U.S.-China relations and multilateral architecture in East Asia. She is also a senior associate with the Institute of American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and an editorial assistant for American Studies Quarterly.
She is co-author of three books: U.S. Unilateralism and Worldwide Anti-Americanism After September 11 (Tianjin Press, 2007), U.S. Role in East Asia: Perceptions, Policies and Impacts (Shishi Press, 2008), and Think Tanks and Their Role in U.S. Policy toward China (forthcoming). She has also written numerous articles on American foreign policy, multilateral cooperation in East Asia, and American think tanks for well-known Chinese academic journals, magazines, and newspapers.
As China's share of the global economy expands, asserts David Finkelstein, so does it's foreign policy impact on the world -- a fact that will further complicate the country's relationship with the United States. "In a globalizing world," says Finkelstein, "You don't get to choose your dance partner."
