The Confucius Institute (UDCI) at the University of Delaware, in partnership with the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, will host the 10th annual China Town Hall: Local Connections, National Reflections from 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 18, in Room 205 Kirkbride Hall. 

An annual event organized by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, the China Town Hall features both a local speaker and a national webcast. The event focuses on helping Americans understand the complex relationship between the U.S. and China, and its impact on the lives of American people. The theme of this year’s national webcast and live local dialogue is "The Sino-American Relationship: Challenges and Opportunities.”

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the National Committee, Henry A. Kissinger has been selected as the featured speaker in this year’s webcast. Kissinger served as national security adviser (1969-75) and secretary of state (1973-77). While national security adviser, Kissinger played a crucial role in arranging President Richard Nixon’s 1972 visit to China, which opened the door to the re-establishment of U.S.-China relations.

The “Local Connections” portion of the program will begin at 6 p.m. with a keynote address by Lloyd Neighbors, who served as a diplomat for over 30 years with the U.S. Information Agency and the Department of State in greater China, including mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Most recently, Neighbors was the minister counselor for public affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing (2000-03). 

Audience members will be invited to engage with Neighbors in an in-person question and answer session following a short lecture. Those in attendance are also encouraged to submit questions to the national webcast via Twitter using the hashtag #CTH16. Light refreshments will be served after the event. 

“The objective of China Town Hall is to help people better understand the dynamic of the U.S.-China relationship and answer questions on issues that touch their daily lives,” said Jianguo Chen, director of the Confucius Institute at UD. “It is important that our campus community understands how countries in the world interact and how the international community can collaborate in seeking global solutions to many of the urgent issues that confront us.”

Those who have a strong interest in U.S.-China relations are also encouraged to attend the panel discussion, “Asia in the U.S. Presidential Election,” at 4 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 18, in Room 104 of the Willard Hall Education Building. The panel will consist of Troy Stangarone and Alice Ba and will be moderated by Darryl Flaherty, professor of history and director of the Asian Studies program. The event, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by UD’s Asian Studies program and the Center for Global and Area Studies.

For more information on the China Town Hall, visit the Confucius Institute website, follow @UDGlobal and @UDConfucius on Twitter, or email confucius@udel.edu.

This event is co-sponsored by the Institute for Global Studies, the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures and the Center for Global and Area Studies.

About the Confucius Institute

The Confucius Institute (UDCI) at the University of Delaware, a partner with Hanban/Confucius Institute Headquarters and Xiamen University, strives to promote Chinese language and culture throughout the University community and general public.

In order to facilitate cross-cultural understanding, promote international educational opportunities, and improve academic collaboration in the Delmarva regions, UDCI initiates and organizes a wide array of language and cultural activities, sponsors academic and scholarly exchange programs, and provides information and consultative services in China’s education, culture, and business.