U.S.-Sino relations A special guest
Too often in our great city, the appearance here of world leaders flies under our collective radar screen. But next week, we should roll out our red carpet to welcome one of the most influential leaders from Asia who is the 3rd highest ranking on that continent.
Her visit is a reminder that Houston is a center for not only energy, but many other global activities that link us to the world.
On June 20, Madame Liu Yandong, vice premier of China, will be the highest-ranking visitor from that country to Texas since the 1979 visit of China’s paramount leader, Deng Xiaoping, when he was famously hosted by the Houston Chamber of Commerce at a small rodeo, and 2002, when President Jiang Zemin was hosted by the Asia Society Texas Center, The Partnership and the city of Houston.
Vice Premier Liu will bring a high-level delegation of ministers of Health, Education, Sports and Culture. The Asia Society, the GHP, the city and the state of Texas will host the welcoming dinner for them. Madame Liu, along with Chinese basketball players training in the U.S., will meet with NBA officials at the Toyota Center, and she will visit the Houston Museum of Natural Science to view its “China’s Lost Civilization” exhibit. She also will visit the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and Rice University, which will host a China-U.S. University Presidents Forum for a dialogue on China-U.S. educational exchanges with presidents of prominent Chinese and U.S. universities, all to enhance our cultural, medical and educational cooperation.
One of our most prominent Houstonians, President George H. W. Bush, has consistently said for decades that our most important bilateral relation is U.S.-Sino relations. The image of Houston as a great international city is only enhanced by hosting this important leader from Asia. Let’s all do our part in welcoming her.
Charles C. Foster, chairman, Asia Society Texas Center and U.S. China Partnerships, board member, Greater Houston Partnership