Asia Society Northern California Annual Dinner
Across the Pacific: California and Asia in the 21st Century

	Saturday, June 4, 2005 The Ritz-Carlton 600 Stockton at California Street, San Francisco
	Honoring: Senator Dianne Feinstein Keynote Speaker Read Senator Feinstein's remarks
	Featuring: Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke Chairman, Asia Society National Board of Trustees
	Remarks by: Robert C. Dynes President, University of California
	Honorary Chairs: The Honorable George P. Shultz Former Secretary of State
	Charlotte M. Shultz Chief of Protocol, State of California and Chief of Protocol, City and County of San Francisco
	Richard C. Blum Chairman, Blum Capital

U.S. SENATOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN PRESSES THE NEED FOR
DIPLOMACY BETWEEN ASIA AND THE UNITED STATES
AT SOLD OUT ASIA SOCIETY NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ANNUAL DINNER

San Francisco, CA – Asia Society Northern California held its Annual Dinner, Across the Pacific: California and Asia in the 21 st Century, on Saturday, June 4, 2005 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in San Francisco. The event began at 6:30 p.m. with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, followed by dinner and program at 7:30 p.m. The program featured a question and answer session with Senator Dianne Feinstein facilitated by CBS anchorwoman Sydnie Kohara and a keynote address by Senator Feinstein titled, “ China's Rise: Security Implications for US Foreign Policy in the Asia Pacific Region.” Feinstein’s spoke on the value of the United States diplomacy with Asia and the need for the U.S. to be the lead example in continuing diplomatic principles with Asian countries.

The sold out dinner, which raised over $215,000, honored Senator Feinstein with the Asia Society’s Leadership Award for her significant contributions to California's long-standing commitment to Asia. Throughout her 13 years in the Unites States Senate and eight years as Mayor of San Francisco, Senator Feinstein has been an enthusiastic advocate of enhanced ties to the Asia Pacific region and has made Asia and Asian American issues a priority. In addition to Senator Feinstein’s keynote address, Robert Dynes, President of the University of California, discussed California’s growing relationship with Asia and Senator Feinstein's contributions towards building trade and mutual understanding with Asia. The event also featured remarks by Vishakha Desai, President of Asia Society, Richard Blum, John Wadsworth, and Chong –Moon Lee, Advisory Board Co-Chairmen. Annual Dinner co-chairs and Advisory Board members in attendance included, Iris and Mike Chan, David Lyon, Jim and Becky Morgan, Sandy and Jeanne Robertson, Emily Sano, Lip-Bu Tan, and Sandy and Jeanne Robertson.

The Asia Society is America’s leading institution dedicated to fostering understanding of Asia and communication among Americans and the peoples of Asia and the Pacific. Drawing on its strength as one of the nation’s preeminent educational and cultural links, the Society strives to offer fresh perspectives on the forces and issues that are shaping Asia’s relations with California, the United States and the rest of the world. Founded in 1956 and headquartered in New York, the Asia Society has regional centers in Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Manila, Melbourne, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

All proceeds benefit the ongoing educational programs of the Asia Society of Northern California.