The Event Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Dr. Henry Kissinger's Secret Trip to China, hosted by the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA) with the cooperation of the National Committee on United States-China Relations (NCUSCR), was held on July 9, 2021 at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan attended the event in person, Former US Secretary of State Dr. Kissinger participated virtually and they delivered speeches respectively. The event was chaired by Mr. Wang Chao, President of the CPIFA, with the online and offline attendance of over 300 guests from various sectors of China and the US. Ambassador Carla Hills, NCUSCR Honorary Chair and former US Trade Representative, made brief introduction of Dr. Kissinger before he spoke.

Two panel discussions themed respectively “the Memory and Historical Lessons of China-US Relations” and “The Benefits of China-US Relations from the Perspectives of Various Communities” were held at the event. The panelists are, on the Chinese side, Ms. Tang Wensheng, Advisor of All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, Mr. Lian Zhengbao, former Chinese Ambassador to Namibia, Mr. Xie Yuan, former Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Mr. Robert Xiao, Vice Chairman of Perfect World Investment & Holding Group, Mr. Calven Wong, Assistant President of Fosun Group, and on the US side, Mr. Winston Lord, former US Ambassador to China, Mr. Chas W. Freeman Jr., former US Assistant Secretary of Defense, Mr. Ben Harburg, Managing Partner at MSA Capital, Mr. Brent Hass, Associate Dean at Yenching Academy of Peking University, and Ms. Yvonne Pei, Senior Vice President for Government Affairs in Greater China of the Walt Disney Company. The first panel was co-moderated by Mr. Wang Guan, Anchor of China Global Television Network (CGTN) and Ms. Jan Berris, NCUSCR Vice President, while the second panel was chaired by Mr. Wang Guan alone. The event was concluded with the quartets by China National Symphony Orchestra and Philadelphia Orchestra in live and video performances.

The People’s Daily, Xinhua News Agency, China Media Group, China Daily, China News Service, Global Times and Huanqiu.com covered the event on spot.