Wednesday, February 15, 2012 | 4:00 PM EST - 7:00 PM EST
At the invitation of Vice President Joseph Biden, Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping visited Washington, D.C. in mid-February. On Wednesday, February 15, 2012, he gave a major policy address on Sino-American relations at a luncheon co-hosted by the National Committee and the US-China Business Council, along with several cooperating organizations, and attended by approximately 600 business leaders, policymakers, heads of cultural and civic organizations, current and former American government officials, and Chinese officials.
Vice President Xi has visited the U.S. before, but never as China’s vice president. He first came in 1985 when, as Party Secretary of Hebei Province’s Zhengding County, he joined an agricultural trade delegation. His most recent trip was in 2006 when, as Zhejiang Province party secretary, he was welcomed to New York City by National Committee President Stephen A. Orlins at the opening ceremony of Zhejiang Week.
But the National Committee’s connection with the Xi family dates back to 1980: in October-November of that year, we hosted the first delegation of Chinese provincial leaders to the United States. Xi Zhongxun, Vice President Xi’s father and then party secretary of Guangdong Province, headed the delegation.
Politics & Foreign Relations
Recorded 2/15/12