Jianwei Wang, associate professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, recently joined about 50 high-profile scholars and former government officials from Shanghai, Beijing, and the United States in discussing the past, present and future of U.S-China relations.

In late February, Wang attended an international symposium on U.S./Sino relations in Shanghai, China, sponsored by Shanghai Center for RimPac Strategic and International Studies (CPSIS) and a number of other academic organizations. The international symposium, "Sino-U.S. Relations in Retrospect and Prospect," commemorated the 30^th anniversary of the Shanghai Communiqu�. The Shanghai Communiqu� was signed when then U.S. President Richard Nixon renewed U.S. ties with China during his historic visit in which he met the legendary Chinese leaders Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai. Wang called the discussions "friendly, frank and fruitful. The symposium was an excellent opportunity for both countries to take stock in this evolving most important cross-Pacific relationship. The conference was especially timely for scholars to discuss this relationship when President Bush just landed on Chinese soil in Beijing on the same date President Richard Nixon kicked off his groundbreaking visit 30 years ago. "

Two weeks later, Wang was in Beijing to attend another follow-up conference on "U.S.-China relations Under the New International Environment," sponsored by the China Reform Forum and Global Chinese Political Scientist Forum. He made a keynote presentation on the evolution of Bush Administration�s China policy. After the conference, the participants also met some senior Chinese officials to exchange views on U.S.-China relations and Taiwan.

"The opinions and suggestions of overseas Chinese scholars are increasingly appreciated by their Chinese colleagues," Wang declared.

Past recipient of a prestigious MacArthur Foundation grant and an expert on U.S./China relations, Wang has made frequent trips between the United States and his homeland to do research and to promote mutual understandings between the two countries. A native of China, he holds undergraduate and master�s degrees from Fudan University in Shanghai and a doctorate from the University of Michigan.

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tmiller/vc/Jianwei China