Join Project Pengyou in Berkeley for a candid discussion with John Thomson and Tom Gold, two of the earliest Americans to work and study in China after US-China normalized relations in 1979.

SPECIAL EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT:
The Current State of US-China Relations:
A Fireside Chat with the “Original China Hands”

EVENT DETAILS:

Time: Monday, October 12, 2015, 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Pacific Time
Location: UC Berkeley, Anna Head Alumnae Hall, 2537 Haste Street, Berkeley, CA 94720
Organizer: Project Pengyou (www.projectpengyou.org)
RSVP: RSVP@projectpengyou.org

Join a candid discussion with two of the earliest Americans to work and study in China after US-China normalized relations in 1979. John Thomson and Tom Gold will share their perspectives on the evolving state of US-China relations, including perceived threats and opportunities, and in addition reflect on outcomes of the most recent presidential summit between Barack Obama and Xi Jinping. Holly Chang, President of Project Pengyou and Acting Executive Director of the Committee of 100 will serve as moderator. Networking reception with light hors d’oeuvres to follow.

SPEAKERS:

JOHN THOMSON

Former Career U.S. Foreign Service Diplomat; Program Director of Multiple US-China Exchange Programs including UC-EAP and IUP

In 1979, John Thomson was a U.S. Foreign Service officer in charge of establishing the first educational and cultural exchanges with China after normalization, including establishment of the Fulbright Program.

THOMAS B. GOLD

Professor of Sociology, UC, Berkeley; Executive Director of IUP at Tsinghua University in Beijing

Professor Gold was one of the historic “Beijing Eight”, the first group of American students to live and study in China in 1979 after normalization. 

HOLLY CHANG (moderator)

President, Golden Bridges Foundation | Project Pengyou, Acting Executive Director, Committee of 100

Holly Chang is a Chinese American social entrepreneur and has lived in Beijing for ten years.

ABOUT PROJECT PENGYOU:

The Project Pengyou initiative is a global network of young Americans with firsthand experience. As a program of the Golden Bridges Foundation, the community has over 5,000 members and 30 campus chapters across the country.

Project Pengyou Chapters organize events to promote exchanges between Americans and Chinese, and foster a greater appreciation for China study.

The Project Pengyou Leadership Fellows program recruits exceptional next-generation leaders, providing life-transformative leadership and community organizing training to build a pipeline of long-term advocates for the US-China relationship.

ProjectPengyou.org is a dynamic online resource hub curating China-related jobs, events and exchange programs. The program is seeded by funds from the Ford Foundation and serves as a public-private partnership with the U.S. Department of State.

The Project Pengyou Chapter at UC Berkeley was established in the spring of 2014 to serve, inspire and transform the next generation of US-China bridge-builders at UC Berkeley. For more information on how to join the chapter, contact: ucberkeleychapter@projectpengyou.org