U.S.-China Relations at 30
VIEW EVENT DETAILSAn Off-the-Record Presentation by CLARK T. RANDT JR., Former U.S. Ambassador to China "The relationship between the United States and China will shape the 21st century,' declared President Barack Obama at the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. As the most important bilateral relationship in the world is celebrating its 30th anniversary, U.S.-China ties have matured with growing interdependence between the two powers. Few global issues - such as the economy, foreign policy or the environment - can be solved without the U.S. and China working together. What developments have there been since diplomatic relations were established on January 1, 1979? What are the trends and prospects for U.S.-China relations? Will the soaring U.S. budget deficit and trade disputes sour ties? What are the challenges ahead? Clark Randt is the longest serving U.S. Ambassador to the People's Republic of China, in office from 2001 until 2009. A lawyer fluent in Chinese, he has lived and worked in Asia for over 30 years. He was First Secretary and Commercial Attache at the U.S. Embassy between 1982 and 1984. He then lived in Hong Kong for 18 years, most recently as a partner with the international law firm of Shearman & Sterling where he headed the firm's China practice. He is a recognized expert on Chinese law and currently runs his own consulting company. Randt graduated from Yale University and received his Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan. He also attended Harvard Law School, where he was awarded the East Asia Legal Studies Traveling Fellowship to China.