Washington, DC (PRWEB) November 21, 2013, — The 100,000 Strong Foundation today held its first annual conference to promote the importance of study abroad as a means to enhance the US-China strategic relationship in conjunction with the fourth annual US-China Consultation on People-to-People Exchange. US Secretary of State John Kerry and Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong headlined the event at American University’s School of International Service.
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Understanding China is increasingly a basic skill required to compete, collaborate and succeed in the global economy — one that should be available to all students, regardless of background.
The 100,000 Strong Foundation today held its first annual conference to promote the importance of study abroad as a means to enhance the US-China strategic relationship. US Secretary of State John Kerry and Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong headlined the event at American University’s School of International Service. |
The 100,000 Strong Foundation, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization launched in 2013 by then-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, seeks to strengthen US-China relations through study abroad.
The conference brought together prominent US and Chinese officials, business leaders, academics and students. They discussed the future of the US-China relationship and the importance of ensuring that the next generation of leaders can work together to address the most pressing global challenges.
“The relationship between China and the United States is based on practical cooperation on shared goals and an understanding of the need for constructive management of our occasional differences,” Secretary of State Kerry said. “Neither country can go it alone. That’s why the 100,000 Strong Foundation is so important and deserves our wholehearted support. The cultural understanding promoted by the Foundation will pay dividends for both countries long into the future.”
The Foundation’s 100,000 Strong Student Ambassador Program officially launched at today’s conference, which was held in conjunction with the fourth annual US-China Consultation on People-to-People Exchange. The student ambassador program selects top students from around the country to promote the Foundation’s mission. 100,000 Strong student ambassadors underscore the diversity of the United States and the need for students from all backgrounds to gain fluency in China-related issues.
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“Understanding China is increasingly a basic skill required to compete, collaborate and succeed in the global economy — one that should be available to all students, regardless of background. Our student ambassadors are a critical part of our effort to increase the number of students from underrepresented populations studying in China,” 100,000 Strong President Carola McGiffert said.
“We are honored to host Secretary Kerry and Vice Premier Liu today and delighted to house the 100,000 Strong Foundation at the School of International Service,” said American University’s School of International Service Dean Jim Goldgeier. “Fostering better understanding of countries such as China through student exchanges is among the principal aims of our school’s mission, and we strongly support the work of the foundation.” |
The 100,000 Strong Foundation is housed at the School of International Service at American University in Washington, DC. The Foundation’s work is generously supported by the Ford Foundation, the Florence Fang Family Foundation, WorldStrides, Wanxiang NA, Deloitte and GreenPoint Group.
For more information about the 100,000 Strong Foundation, please visit www.100kstrong.org.
Secretary Kerry Highlights 100,000 Strong Foundation in remarks at closing session of the 2013 CPE
During his remarks at the Closing Session of the 2013 U.S.-China High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange, Us Secretary of State John Kerry highlighted the work of the 100,000 Strong Foundation this year:
“Our educational exchanges are truly more widespread than ever before. And if I’m able to encourage that, as I hope to, they will be even more widespread over the course of these next years. Thousands – hundreds of thousands of Chinese students and teachers like Chen are coming to American colleges and universities. And later today, Vice Premier Liu and I will speak about President Obama’s 100,000 Strong Initiative and the foundation of the same name which is aimed at sending 100,000 American students to study in China by the end of next year.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, the establishment and development of the CPE is a major event in our people-to-people exchange and the history of our bilateral relations. Over the past three years and more, the CPE has made continued progress and implemented over 100 important outcomes in the six areas of education, science and technology, culture, sports, women, and youth. The 100,000 Strong Initiative of the U.S. side has enabled 6- to 8,000 American students to study in China, and the (inaudible) 10,000 projects of the Chinese side has in total sent nearly 10,000 people to the United States for Ph.D. studies or joint Ph.D. programs, and invited over 10,000 Americans to China for visits or studies.”