Time:2008/12/16

November 4, 2008, Mr. Timothy E. Wirth, President of the United Nations Foundation (UN Foundation) was invited to the School of International Studies PKU by the Director of the Center for American Studies of PKU, the Executive Deputy Director of CISS of PKU, and the UN Foundation Asia Board Director Yuan Ming, to discuss the US Presidential Election, the future of US-China relations, and US-China cooperation on climate change. This event was jointly held by CISS PKU and the Center for American Studies PKU. Several scholars from Renmin University of China, Tsinghua University, Institute of American Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Science, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, Party School of the Central Committee of CPC and PKU attended this discussion.

Mr. Wirth is a former U.S. Congressman and Senator. He also served as Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs at U.S. Department of State during the Clinton Administration. While in this position, one of Mr. Wirth’s focuses was Climate Change; he represented the US at the Kyoto Protocol discussions. In 1998, Wirth became the President of the UN Foundation and worked to develop the UN’s influence over and support for global environmental protection. In this capacity, he supported global welfare issues, including the development of new energy technologies, HIV/AIDS prevention, and promotion of Women and Children’s Rights.

The discussion was presided over by Yuan Ming. Mr. Wirth discussed the US Presidential Elections, and suggested that the new administration would likely make a large change in its approach to foreign policy, particularly emphasizing more focus on global challenges such as terrorism, nuclear proliferation, poverty, and climate change. Mr. Wirth and the Chinese scholars participated in a lively discussion about the future of US-China relations and how to facilitate US-China cooperation on climate change.