Event

China’s rapid emergence as a global player and potential partner on many U.S. policy priorities has ensured that the Sino-American relationship will have a direct impact on the lives of nearly everyone in both Countries. To help Americans better understand the complex U.S.-China relationship, the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations is conducting the tenth annual CHINA Town Hall: Local Connections, National Reflections at more than 70 locations nationwide. The program will feature a live webcast discussion with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, moderated by National Committee President Stephen Orlins.

Prior to the webcast discussion, we will host a local talk by former Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, Robert Goldberg titled, "Diplomacy in the Age of Henry Kissinger and Beyond". Mr. Goldberg, now based at The Scowcroft Group, provides strategic advice, business solutions and informed analysis on the Asia-Pacific region, with a focus on China and Northeast Asia as well as regional security and economic institutions.

HENRY A. KISSINGER
Henry Alfred Kissinger was sworn in on September 22, 1973, as the 56th Secretary of State, a position he held until January 20, 1977. He also served as Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs from January 20, 1969, until November 3, 1975. In July 1983 he was appointed by President Reagan to chair the National Bipartisan Commission on Central America until it ceased operation in January 1985, and from 1984-1990 he served as a member of the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. From 1986-1988 he was a member of the Commission on Integrated Long-Term Strategy of the National Security Council and Defense Department. He has served as a member of the Defense Policy Board since 2001.

At present, Dr. Kissinger is Chairman of Kissinger Associates, Inc., an international consulting firm. He is also a member of the International Council of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.; a Counselor to and Trustee of the Center for Strategic and International Studies; an Honorary Governor of the Foreign Policy Association; and an Honor Member of the International Olympic Committee. Among his other activities, Dr. Kissinger
served as a member of the Board of Directors of ContiGroup Companies, Inc. from 1988-2014 and remains an Advisor to the Board, a position he also holds at American Express Company since 2005, after serving on the Board from 1984. He is also a Trustee Emeritus of the Metropolitan Museum of Art; a Director Emeritus of Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc.; and a Director of the International Rescue Committee.

Among the awards Dr. Kissinger has received have been a Bronze Star from the U.S. Army in 1945; the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973; the Presidential Medal of Freedom (the nation’s highest civilian award) in 1977; and the Medal of Liberty (given one time to ten foreign-born American leaders) in 1986. Dr. Kissinger was born in Fuerth, Germany, came to the United States in 1938 and was naturalized a United States citizen in 1943. He served in the Army from 1943 to 1946.

He graduated summa cum laude from Harvard College in 1950 and received M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Harvard University in 1952 and 1954. From 1954 until 1969 he was a member of the faculty of Harvard University, in both the Department of Government and the Center for International Affairs. He was Director of the Harvard International Seminar from 1952 to 1969.

ROBERT GOLDBERG
A Principal of The Scowcroft Group, Robert Goldberg provides strategic advice, business solutions and informed analysis on the Asia-Pacific region, with a focus on China and Northeast Asia as well as regional security and economic institutions. Prior to joining The Scowcroft Group, Mr. Goldberg’s career included thirty years of public service as a U.S. diplomat. During that time, he worked as an advocate for U.S. businesses abroad, advised companies on U.S. foreign and economic policies, negotiated the resolution of trade policy disputes and helped expand market and investment opportunities.

Mr. Goldberg retired from the State Department in January 2011 following an 18-month assignment as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. Previously, he was U.S. Consul General in Guangzhou, China (2006-2009), Director of the State Department's Office of Chinese and Mongolian Affairs (2005-2006), the Deputy Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs in the State Department's Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs (2001-2003), and Deputy Economic Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing (1996-1999). Prior to those posts, he served in the East Asia and Pacific Bureau of the State Department, which was responsible for U.S. policies in the ASEAN Regional Forum and the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum (1994-1996). Mr. Goldberg's other assignments in the State Department included tours in India, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

Mr. Goldberg was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. He received a Bachelor's Degree from Gettysburg College and a Master's Degree from the University of Chicago, where he completed additional post-graduate work.

CHINA Town Hall is a national day of programming on China involving 70 cities throughout the United States. Our local program is sponsored by the Center for East Asian Studies, the Center for the Study of Contemporary China, and the Perry World House