The National Committee on United States-China Relations (www.ncuscr.org
) is pleased to announce its second annual CHINA Town Hall. The program will open with a webcast from Washington, D.C., featuring noted political analyst Norman J. Ornstein, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, discussing "The China Issue in the 2008 Presidential and Congressional Elections." National Committee President Stephen A. Orlins will moderate this 45-minute portion of the program, comprised of a 15-minute talk and a half hour for Ornstein to respond to questions e-mailed in from audience members around the country.
Following the national portion of the program, a panel of experts will discuss issues relating to trade, energy, human rights, Taiwan, Tibet, the Olympics, United States-China relations and East Asian security. Panelists include Jacques deLisle, director of the Asia Program at the Foreign Policy Research Institute; Steve Lewis, fellow in Asian studies at the Baker Institute; and Hans Stockton, associate professor at the University of St. Thomas Center for International Studies. The panel will be moderated by Frank Jones, counsel, Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.
Thirty cities participated in the inaugural CHINA Town Hall in May 2007. The webcast of the national portion of that program can be viewed on the National Committee website. The goal this year is to work with 40 cities, producing an equally successful event.
CHINA Town Hall is generously underwritten by The Starr Foundation. The Houston Town Hall is co-sponsored by the Baker Institute, the University of St. Thomas - Houston and The Houston Forum.
