US-China Young Diplomats Dialogue 中美青年外交官对话

On September 29-30, 13 Chinese and American diplomats gathered in Norman, Oklahoma for the 9th annual US-China Diplomatic Dialogue. The American participants came from the US State and Commerce Departments in Washington, DC, while the Chinese diplomats came from the PRC Embassy in Washington, and from PRC consulates in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston, as well as the PRC Mission to the UN.

They exchanged views on 1) Taking stock: US-China relations under the Obama and Xi administrations, 2) Avoiding the ‘Thucydides Trap’: China’s rise and US-China relations today, 3) Dollars and Yuan: Managing global and bilateral economic turbulence, and 4) Looking forward: The US presidential campaign, global challenges, and increasing US-China cooperation in the 21st century. They had lunch with OU students, and attended the Norman North vs. Mustang High School football game on Friday night.

The Chinese participants were:

• Qi Dahai (Counsellor), Embassy of PRC to the U.S.
• Luo Yang (Attache), Embassy of PRC to the U.S.
• Feng Jinping (Third Secretary), Permanent Mission of the PRC to the UN
• Zhu Jianzheng (Third Secretary), Consulate General of the PRC in New York
• Jin Wei (Third Secretary), Consulate General of the PRC in San Francisco
• Wu Yibo (Third Secretary), Consulate General of the PRC in LA
• Xue Liang (Third Secretary), Consulate General of the PRC in Chicago
• Ge Mingdong (Second Secretary), Consulate General of the PRC in Houston

The American participants were:

• Mark Neighbors, Office of Chinese & Mongolian Affairs, U.S. Department of State
• Daniel McCandless, Office of Chinese & Mongolian Affairs, U.S. Dept. of State
• James Wilson, Office of Chinese & Mongolian Affairs, U.S. Department of State
• Wenny Dong, U.S. Department of Commerce
• Brianne Watts, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs.

On October 16-17, 17 Chinese and American diplomats met in Guiyang, Guizhou for the 8th annual US-China Diplomatic Dialogue. The American participants came from the US Embassy in Beijing and US consulates in Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou, and Shenyang, while the Chinese diplomats came from the PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing. They exchanged views on 1) President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to the US, 2) enhancing bilateral cooperation in global governance, 3) promoting US-China security cooperation in the Asia-Pacific, and 4) managing the impact of 2016 leadership transitions in Washington and Taipei on US-China relations. They also toured Qingyan ancient town outside of Guiyang, and enjoyed a performance art show.

The Chinese participants were:

• 王 昱 (Wang Yu), Counsellor, MOFA General Office
• 李素云 (Li Suyun), First Secretary, MOFA Dept. of North American & Oceanic Affairs
• 高建正 (Gao Jianzheng), First Secretary, MOFA General Office
• 王 煜 (Wang Yu), Second Secretary, MOFA Department of Personnel
• 路 辉 (Lu Hui), Third Secretary, Dept. of North American and Oceanic Affairs
• 刘彦明 (Liu Yanming), Third Secretary, MOFA Dept. of International Economic Affairs
• 吴 晔 (Wu Ye), Attaché, MOFA Dept. of North American and Oceanic Affairs
• 刘欲然 (Liu Yuran), Attaché, MOFA Policy Planning Department
• 封 妍(Feng Yan), Clerk, MOFA Dept. of North American and Oceanic Affairs

The American participants were:

• Anny Vu, U.S. Embassy, Political Section
• Pierce Davis, U.S. Embassy, Economic Section
• Elizabeth (Liz) Jones, U.S. Consulate in Chengdu, Culture Affairs
• Kelly Busby, U.S. Consulate in Chengdu, Political Section
• Nar Dao, U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou, Economic and Political Section
• Aamod Omprakash, U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou, Economic and Political Section
• Arati Shroff, U.S. Consulate in Shanghai, Economic Section
• David Hillon, U.S. Consulate in Shenyang, Political and Economic Section

On October 2-4, the OU Institute for US-China Issues brought together 13 Chinese and American diplomats in Norman, Oklahoma for the 7th annual US-China Diplomatic Dialogue. The American participants came from the US State Department and the US Treasury and Commerce Departments in Washington, DC, while the Chinese diplomats came from the PRC Embassy in Washington, and from PRC consulates in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston.

They exchanged views on 1) the domestic politics of US China policy and China’s US policy, 2) climate change and associated economic issues, 3) key bilateral security and political issues, such as cyber/intellectual property, mil-mil, and human rights, and 4) U.S. and Chinese interactions in the Asia-Pacific. They had lunch with OU students, toured the Barry Switzer Center at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, and attended the Norman North vs. Jenks High School football game on Friday night.

The Chinese participants were:

• 孙劲 (Sun Jin, Head of delegation), Counselor, PRC Embassy, DC
• 张鹏 (Zhang Peng), PRC Embassy, DC
• 杨刚 (Yang Gang), PRC NYC Consulate
• 汪翔 (Wang Xiang,) PRC SF Consulate
• 冯德恒 (Feng Deheng), PRC LA Consulate
• 李晗 (Li Han), PRC Chicago Consulate
• 王策 (Wang Ce), PRC Houston Consulate

The American participants were:

• Kevin Sheives, State China desk (maritime/regional security)
• Jonathan Freimark, State China desk (cyber, law enforcement trafficking in persons)
• Victoria Gunderson, State China desk (energy)
• Christopher Wong, Commerce (China office)
• Greer Mesiels, Treasury (China office)
• Benjamin (Seth) Bailey (State Economic and Biz affairs bureau’s China bilateral trade officer)

On December 12-14, the OU Institute for US-China Issues and Fudan University brought together 16 mid-career Chinese and American diplomats in Haikou City in Hainan, China for the 6th annual US-China Diplomatic Dialogue. The American participants came from the US Embassy in Beijing, and US consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Shenyang. The Chinese diplomats came from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing. They exchanged views on great power relations, existing dialogue mechanisms and other areas of US-China cooperation and exchange, as well as the major sources of misunderstanding in US-China relations. They also toured a volcanic geopark.

The Chinese participants were:

• Zhu Haiquan (朱海权), Director, Department of North American and Oceanic Affairs
• Guo Jiakun (郭嘉昆), Deputy Director, Policy Planning Department
• Hu Yumin (胡钰旻), Deputy Director, Dept. of North American and Oceanic Affairs
• Tang Chang’an (汤长安), Deputy Director, Department of Personnel
• Peng Zhengwu (彭政武), First Secretary, Information Department
• Li Shipeng (李仕鹏), Second Secretary, Dept. of North American and Oceanic Affairs
• Zhang Buxin (张步新), Second Secretary, Dept. of Latin American & Caribbean Affairs
• Wu Yibo (吴一波), Attaché, Department of North American and Oceanic Affairs

The American participants were:

• Evan Morrisey, U.S. Embassy, Political Section.
• Nina Diaz, U.S. Embassy, Second Secretary, Economic Section.
• Wylita Bell, U.S. Consulate in Shanghai, Public Affairs Section.
• Paul Stahle, U.S. Consulate in Shanghai, Economic Section.
• Paul Baldwin, U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou, Outreach Coordinator.
• Patrick Martino, U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou, Economic Officer.
• Thanh Kim, U.S. Consulate in Chengdu, Deputy Consular Section Chief.
• William Coleman, U.S. Consulate in Shenyang, Public Affairs Officer.

On April 5-7, 14 mid-career Chinese and American diplomats gathered in Norman, Oklahoma for the 5th annual US-China Diplomatic Dialogue. The American participants came from the State Department, Treasury, and Commerce. The Chinese diplomats came from the PRC Embassy in Washington, as well as consulates in Chicago, LA, SF, Houston, and New York. They exchanged views on political, security, economic, and trade relations, and the sources of trust and mistrust in US-China relations. They also toured the football stadium and attended a Sooners softball game.

The Chinese participants were:

• Zhou Jingxing, Counselor, Embassy
• Qian Li, First Secretary, Embassy
• Guo Zhenguang, First Secretary, NYC
• Li Chunfu, First Secretary, SF
• Xing Lei, Second Secretary, LA
• Chen Wendi, Third Secretary, Chicago
• Yang Jing, Third Secretary, Houston

The American participants were:

• Christian Marchant, China Desk, State
• Peter Dycaico, Economics, China Desk, State
• Josh Goldberg, Political, China Desk, State
• Jessica Batke, Research Analyst, State
• Steven Chan, Commerce, China
• Patrick Douglass, Treasury
• Larry Grippo, Trade Policy, State

On August 4-6, 2011, 12 Chinese and American diplomats met in Yuexi County, Anhui Province for the fourth USCDD, which involved frank discussions of the sources of mutual mistrust in the bilateral relationship. The diplomats also went hiking in the Mingtang Mountains.

The Chinese participants were:

• Ren Faqiang Foreign Ministry
• Li Suyun Foreign Ministry
• Liu Yan Foreign Ministry
• Chen Wendi Foreign Ministry
• Wu Ting Foreign Ministry
• Hu Changjin Foreign Ministry
• Luan Nan Ministry of Finance
• Hu Fan Ministry of Defense

The American participants were:

• Carl Watson Beijing ECON
• Deji Okediji Beijing POL
• Dannielle Andrews CG Shenyang
• Evan Felsing CG Shanghai
• Julie Eadeh CG Shanghai
• Michael Cognato CG Guangzhou
• Dan Cederberg CG Guangzhou

On April 2, 2010, 12 Chinese and American diplomats met in Norman, Oklahoma for the third USCDD. They discussed 1) Strengthening cooperation and dialogue, 2) The global financial crisis and US-China relations, and 3) managing “difficult issues” in US-China relations. In addition to a "fireside chat" with OU studnets, they enjoyed a Sooner baseball game against Texas.

The Chinese participants were:

• Ruan Zongze, Embassy
• Ren Yisheng, UN
• Wang Qing, Embassy
• Ma Yuanchun, New York
• Chu Kaimin, Houston
• Ding Qiao, Los Angeles

The American participants were:

• Casey Mace, State China Desk
• Seth Patch, State China Desk
• Tom Hamm, State China Desk
• Casey Owens, Treasury
• Ning Lu, Commerce
• Colleen Abate, USTR

On the weekend of December 12-14, 2008, 14 mid-career Chinese and American diplomats met for an informal retreat in Guilin, China. The American diplomats came from the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, as well as all four of the U.S. consulates around China; the Chinese diplomats all came from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing. They exchanged views on Sino-American relations under the newly elected Obama administration, the global financial crisis, and the implications of Ma Ying-jeou’s victory in Taiwan for U.S.-China relations.

The Chinese participants were:

• Cheng Lei: Counselor & Director, DNAOA
• Xing Yuchun: First Secretary, DNAOA
• Wang Jian: Third Secretary, DNAOA
• Shan Wenjun: Third Sec., DNAOA
• Fan Xuewei: Third Secretary
• Chen Yanjun: Deputy Dir, Policy Planning
• Chen Yaou: 1st Sec., Dept of Information

The American participants were:

• Nolan Barkhouse, Guangzhou: Political
• Brian Gibel, Shenyang: Env, Sci, & Tech
• Yuiy Fedkiw, Chengdu: Political
• Matt Murray, Shanghai: Political
• Robert Koepcke, Beijing: Economic
• Dan Kachur, Beijing: Information
• Scott Walker, Shanghai: Public Affairs

On October 3-6, 2007, 14 mid-career diplomats from the US State Department and the PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs met for the inaugural US-China Diplomatic Dialogue. The diplomats discussed three issues: 1) Energy security and US-China relations, 2) Confidence Building and Crisis Management in US-China relations, and 3) the Taiwan Issue in US-China relations. They also attended a women's soccer game and visited the Oklahoma City National Memorial.

The Chinese participants were:

• Xiudong Jia (Pol. Councillor, Washington)
• Yu Wang (Washington)
• Haitao Zhang (New York)
• Jihua Zhou (San Francisco)
• Luo Wang (Los Angeles)
• Bo Shen (UN)
• Chongjun Bai (Houston)
• Huixun Zhang (Chicago)

The American participants were:

• Ruth Kurzbauer
• James Loi
• Wendy Lyle
• Amy Nicodemus
• Andrew Publicover
• Nida Emmons