Clemson’s Center for China Studies to feature Henry Kissinger in speaker series

The Clemson University Center for China Studies will feature former National Security Advisor and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger via webcast at its speaker series from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Commerce Club in Greenville. Kissinger and Robert Daly, director of the Kissinger Institute, will deliver remarks that will provide the audience a better understanding of China and the effect of China’s rise in American communities.

Daly will attend the event live and his talk, “Three Ways to Look at China,” will begin at 6 p.m., followed by Kissinger’s broad, webcast discussion of China and U.S.-China relations at 7 p.m. According to Xiaobo Hu, director of Clemson’s Center for China Studies, speakers such as Kissinger and Daly will help to illustrate the importance and impact of China on the international stage.

“The relationship between the U.S. and China is one of the most important bilateral relationships this century,” Hu said. “It is imperative for us to promote a better understanding of China’s development and impact, and having [Kissinger and Daly] willing to speak on the issue is an honor for our center and the university.”

Photo: Henry Kissinger’s work as national security advisor and secretary of state in the 1970s saw him go to great lengths to strengthen U.S.-China relations.
Image Credit: Kissinger Associates Inc.

According to Hu, Kissinger’s speech will be conducted as a question-and-answer dialogue with National Committee on U.S.-China Relations President Stephen Orlins. To make this portion of the night highly interactive, Orlins will take questions from the audience via electronic submission.

In addition to his work as national security advisor and secretary of state in the 1970s, Kissinger has taught at Harvard University and is chairman of Kissinger Associates Inc., an international consulting firm. While national security advisor, Kissinger played a crucial role in arranging President Nixon’s 1972 visit to China, which opened the door to the re-establishment of U.S.-China relations. Kissinger continues to strengthen the Sino-American relationship.

Daly previously served as American director of the Johns Hopkins University-Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies in Nanjing. He has also worked in the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, taught Chinese at Cornell University, helped produce a Chinese-language version of “Sesame Street,” and hosted television programs and played in theater projects in China.

“[Kissinger and Daly] have had intimate knowledge of China and Chinese people for decades, from top leaders to ordinary folks,” Hu said. “They are two of the best speakers available to help us understand China’s past, present and future, which is crucial for our students and local communities engaging in world business.”

Photo: Robert Daly’s decades of work with Chinese organizations inform his work at Kissinger Associates Inc.
Image Credit: Kissinger Associates Inc.

Clemson’s Center for China Studies has hosted its speaker series since 2007. The event has attracted many speakers via webcast, including former President Jimmy Carter, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski. On-site speakers have included Senior Vice President of the U.S.-China Business Council Erin Ennis, former President of American Chamber of Commerce in China Christian Murck, and Chief China Economist of Nomura International Mingchun Sun.

This event is part of The National Committee on U.S.-China Relations’ China Town Hall program, which is also webcasted to other venues across the country. Clemson’s Center for China Studies Speaker Series event is co-sponsored by Elliott Davis Decosimo, JH Global Services Inc. and the Clemson University Small Business Development Center. Preregistration is required at  http://bit.ly/2dPhb8y.