Ambassador Cui Tiankai Addresses 'CUSEF 15' Inaugural Event
in Celebration of 15 Years of the China-United States Exchange Foundation
(November 14, 2023) HONG KONG—The China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF), a non-profit organization that builds trust and understanding between the two countries. is commemorating its 15th anniversary with ‘CUSEF 15,’ a year-long initiative where eminent figures will have 15 minutes to share their insights on the issues shaping the global future.
Ambassador Cui Tiankai, former Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the United States of America, was the featured speaker at the lead-off event for 'CUSEF 15' in Hong Kong, one day before the highly anticipated talks between President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden at the APEC Leaders’ Meeting in San Francisco on November 15.
Ambassador Cui said at the event in Hong Kong, "................"
Currently in Hong Kong to speak at the CUSEF 15 event, Ambassador Cui has played a pivotal role in U.S.-China relations, serving as China’s top diplomatic envoy from 2013 to 2021, and covering three presidential administrations from Barack Obama to Donald Trump, and the start of Joe Biden’s current term in office.
Beyond his ambassadorial duties, Cui was instrumental in navigating bilateral challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was a key participant at the bilateral meeting in Alaska in March 2021, when he joined Yang Jiechi and Wang Yi in their meetings with the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
Mr. James Chau, President of CUSEF, remarked, "Ambassador Cui Tiankai's compelling words at CUSEF 15 are testament to the critical moment before us: only through increased dialogue can we build the trust and understanding necessary to stop the decline in the U.S.-China relationship positions it at the frontlines of collaborative global leadership, and unlock its potential to consign contemporary challenges to history. Once again, CUSEF is the convening platform for diverse opinions and voices—and this lead-off event in our CUSEF 15 initiative is testament to our enduring commitment to foster dialogue with global figures, no matter the conditions.”
The CUSEF 15 event follows CUSEF’s annual meeting, the Hong Kong Forum on China-U.S. Relations, held on November 9-10, where China’s Ambassador Xie Feng and U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Burns called for continued communication in a notable expression of public unity. Twenty-four hours after their opening address to CUSEF’s Hong Kong Forum, the upcoming meeting between the two Presidents in San Francisco was confirmed, emphasizing the significance of bilateral exchanges on both governmental and non-governmental levels and of providing platforms to connect people and ideas.
When President Biden and President Xi meet on November 15, it will be their first opportunity to engage in-person since their last physical meeting exactly one year ago at the G20 Summit in Bali.
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Note to Editors:
About China-United States Exchange Foundation
The China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF) is an independent, non-profit organization founded by The Hon. Tung Chee-hwa, First Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR, with a mission to build trust, facilitate exchange, and advance understanding between the world’s two largest economies. For details, please visit www.cusef.org.hk
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