In This Issue The Committee of 100 (C-100) is an international, non-profit, non- Signposts in U.S.-China partisan membership organization that brings a Chinese American Relations perspective to issues concerning Asian Americans and U.S.-China relations. Our organization draws upon the collective experience, Empowering Future knowledge, and resources of our members - Chinese Americans Leaders who have achieved prominence in a variety of fields and work in Upcoming Events partnership towards our mission. Learn More. Committee Updates Signposts in U.S.-China Relations: The Path of Cooperation or Confrontation Members News As the Committee of 100 monitors ongoing developments in U.S.- Social Media Links China relations, we identify two signposts - the June Sunnylands Summit and the July Strategic & Economic Dialogue - as indicators of where the relationship might be headed. Sunnylands Summit. In June 2013, President Obama met with Committee of 100 China's President Xi Jinping for a uniquely informal two-day summit Website at the Sunnylands Estate in California. Presidents Obama and Xi recognized the summit's symbolic importance and therefore concentrated valuable time on developing personal rapport with each other. Despite modest expectations for the summit to produce consequential results, both leaders acknowledged cybersecurity as a priority concern and conveyed clear messages on their strategic Calendar of Events priorities - Xi touted a new type of "great power relationship" See Upcoming Events between both countries, and Obama focused on "rebalancing (or section for details pivoting) toward Asia." Ahead of the July Strategic & Economic Dialogue, Sunnylands offered the two presidents a platform to September 11: C-100 discuss their positions on major bilateral issues. Speakers Forum: "Gateway to the Pacific: U.S.-China Strategic & Economic Dialogue. This year's Strategic and Economic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) tackled key bilateral issues: cross- Entrepreneurial Exchange;" border investment, North Korea, cyber security, and climate change. San Francisco American and Chinese leaders agreed to restart negotiations September 17: C-100 over a bilateral investment treaty, which could benefit both Speakers Forum: "Asian economies. For Washington, such a treaty could generate Americans, Citizenship, and more market access and safeguards for American the U.S. Constitution: businesses. For Beijing, it could promote U.S. investment into Contributions and China (which has grown slowly since 2010) and ensure Controversy;" Washington, Chinese investors' access to the U.S. market. D.C. On security, China signaled increased willingness to pressure North Korea to denuclearize and restart the Six-Party Talks. October 31: Fifth Greater Despite National Security Agency contractor Edward China Conference; Beijing Snowden's release of information on U.S. espionage efforts in China and the U.S. State Department's consternation April 25-26, 2014: 23rd regarding Hong Kong's decision to not return Snowden to the Annual Common Ground U.S., the incident did not derail S&ED discussions. Instead, Conference; San Francisco Washington and Beijing acknowledged cybersecurity as a sensitive bilateral issue that requires resolution and agreed to host continued meetings of the joint Cyber Working Group. The U.S.-China Climate Change Working Group presented five recommendations for U.S.-China collaboration on climate change that both countries have agreed to implement. Managing bilateral differences and making progress on these critical issues will provide key indicators of which path both countries are pursuing in the months to come. Specifically, high-level meetings such as the G-20 Summit and the East Asia Summit may serve as signposts for the relationship's future direction. To explore these and other critical issues shaping bilateral relations, the Committee has launched the C-100 Speakers Forum series, which will take place in C-100's five main regions: Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Washington, D.C., and Greater China. Keep updated on Forum topics and details at www.committee100.org. Dominic Ng Chairman Committee of 100 Empowering Future Leaders: C-100's Leadership Development Initiative Since 2003, the Committee of 100 has organized leadership development programs in Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C. for Asian American professionals and in China for Chinese postgraduates. These competitive programs offer opportunities to engage with C-100 Members, participate in career development sessions, and strengthen professional networks. In 2013, program participants gathered at C-100's Common Ground Conference for the inaugural Annual Leadership Summit - a nationwide culmination of C-100's regional programs to develop a pipeline of future Asian American leaders. Select 2013 Leadership Summit alumni share their perspective on the impact of C-100's leadership programs: Captain Victor Shen, Commander of the U.S. Army Long Beach Recruiting Company, was introduced to the Committee by the late C-100 Member Matt Fong, who was "the single biggest reason" Victor decided to pursue a career with the U.S. Army. "These leadership programs are unique but more importantly, difference- makers for younger leaders," says Victor, "encouragement and mentorship by the best cannot be duplicated." Steven Chien is Founding Product Manager at PRIMA Cinema, Inc., a high-end entertainment service that works closely with Hollywood studios. As a participant in the Southern California Leadership Mentoring Program, Steven was mentored by C- 100 Member and Producer Teddy Zee. "It's been amazing having the opportunity to connect with C-100 Members," says Steven, "Teddy Zee has taken a real interest in helping me in my career development." Wenni Wu is the Business Development Manager at East West Bank and a participant in C-100's New York Women's Roundtable, a program conceived by C- 100 Member Lulu C. Wang. "The leadership program has been a wonderful experience for my professional and personal growth," affirms Wenni. Wenni says that as a Chinese American, "interacting with C-100 members has been inspirational. In a way, it helps me with my own identity search." Christopher Chan is President of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of the Greater Washington D.C. Area and an alumnus of the Washington, D.C. Roundtables. Leadership program participants are "a collection of highly motivated people," Christopher says, and include "people at the top of their game," as well as "other up and comers who are my peers." He adds, "Having the opportunity to sit down with someone like Ming Tsai and discuss business strategy, race, and career development is a rare and very special thing." Tian Ye is a graduate student at Nanjing University and a recipient of a 2012 C-100 Greater China Leadership Scholarship. The "C-100 leadership scholarship is not just a scholarship," she says, it is an opportunity for scholarship recipients to learn from each other and C-100 members. As a student, Tian Ye felt "confused about the future" and her career path, but C-100 Members offered "valuable suggestions" and "personal experience" that have benefited her professional development. We welcome young Asian American and Chinese professionals to apply for C-100's leadership programs. Please contact Jennifer Welch ([email protected]) for more information. Upcoming Events September 11 San Francisco The inaugural C-100 Speakers Forum, "Gateway to the Pacific: U.S.-China Economic and Entrepreneurial Exchange," will be held at the University Club in San Francisco. Speakers will assess the local impact of U.S.-China economic and entrepreneurial exchange in information technology, cleantech, social media, and other key industries. Featured speakers include: The Honorable Edwin Lee, Mayor of San Francisco; The Honorable Jean Quan, Mayor of Oakland; The Honorable John Chiang, C-100 Member and California State Controller; Myron Brilliant, Executive Vice President, International, U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Marguerite Gong Hancock, Associate Director of SPRIE, Stanford Graduate School of Business; and Jack Wadsworth, Advisory Director, Morgan Stanley. Robert Lee, C-100 Member and Chairman of the Board, Blue Shield of California, will moderate. For more information and to register, click here. Reception: 5:30-6:30 pm Discussion: 6:30-8:00 pm September 17 Washington, D.C. In honor of Constitution Day, the Committee of 100 is convening the C-100 Speakers Forum, "Asian Americans, Citizenship, and the U.S. Constitution: Contributions and Controversy," at the law offices of Covington & Burling. An expert legal panel will discuss how key Asian- American cases have influenced U.S. constitutional jurisprudence. Speakers include Brian A. Sun, C-100 Member and Partner, Jones Day; James C. Ho, Partner, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher; Robert A. Long, Partner, Covington & Burling; and Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa, Hawaii's 1st District. Learn more and register for the event here. Reception: 5:30-6:00 pm Discussion: 6:00-8:00 pm September 21-29 Beijing and Shanghai C-100 China Delegations program will take civic leaders to China. Delegates include John E. Sununu, Former Member of Congress; William Wohlforth, Daniel Webster Professor of Government, Dartmouth College; Noel Lateef, President, Foreign Policy Association; Ilene H. Lang, President and CEO, Catalyst; and Jeffrey Chin, President, ASCEND. October 26-November 4 Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong Influential U.S. journalists will travel to China as part of C-100's China Delegations