Explore a special series on President Xi's visit to the U.S.
John L. Thornton China Center Bulletin
September 30, 2015
Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping delivers a speech during a joint media briefing with Romania's President Traian Basescu (unseen) at Cotroceni presidential palace in Bucharest October 19, 2009.

Chinese state visits are always hard: A historical perspective

Jeffrey A. Bader

Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the United States last week came at a time of considerable turmoil in the relationship. But those who saw Xi’s visit as a uniquely perilous event in the history of the relationship ignore visits by previous Chinese presidents.

China's President Xi Jinping waits for his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas before a welcoming ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, May 6, 2013. Xi plans to use a purge of senior officials suspected of corruption to put his own men and reform-minded bureaucrats into key positions across the Communist Party, the government and the military, sources said. He hopes that removing corrupt officials and those resisting change will allow him to consolidate his grip on power and implement difficult economic, judicial and military reforms that he believes are vital to perpetuate one-party rule, said the sources, who have ties to the leadership. Picture taken May 6, 2013. To match Insight CHINA-CORRUPTION/XI REUTERS/Petar Kujundzic

Understanding President Xi’s contradictions

Cheng Li

Analysts of the Chinese leadership are mistaken in characterizing President Xi Jinping in a simplistic, stagnant, and one-dimensional way.

SPECIAL SERIES ON XI JINPING'S VISIT TO THE U.S.

RESEARCH & COMMENTARY

China’s direct investment in Africa: Reality versus myth

Wenjie Chen, David Dollar and Heiwei Tang

BROOKINGS CHINA COUNCIL

Brookings China Council launches on the eve of Obama-Xi Summit

On September 22, The Brookings Institution announced the launch of the Brookings China Council, which will support Brookings’s work on China and Sino-U.S. relations, at both the John L. Thornton China Center in Washington, D.C. and the Brookings-Tsinghua Center in Beijing.

PAST EVENTS

Brookings co-sponsors President Xi dinner

September 22, 2015

The Brookings Institution co-sponsored a welcoming dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping in Seattle, Washington. 

Brookings China Council attends President Xi dinner

September 22, 2015

The Brookings China Council attends President Xi Jinping's welcome dinner in Seattle, Washington.

Challenges and prospects for U.S.-China relations

September 22, 2015

The John L. Thornton China Center partnered with Seattle University to present a keynote address by Congressman Rick Larsen and two panel discussions featuring Brookings scholars to explain the challenges and prospects for U.S.-China relations during President Xi’s state visit and beyond.

U.S.-China relations in historical context

September 21, 2015

The John L. Thornton China Center hosted Bill Kirby, Mark C. Elliott, and Warren Cohen for a discussion on the important history of the enduring issues and profound changes in the U.S.-China relationship.

NEW NONRESIDENT FELLOW

Pavneet Singh, Nonresident Fellow, Foreign Policy, John L. Thornton China Center

Pavneet Singh

The John L. Thornton China Center would like to welcome our newest nonresident fellow, Pavneet Singh. Pavneet (or “Pav”) currently serves as a Director at Ayasdi, Inc. and previously served in several roles on the National Security Council and National Economic Council at the White House.

IN THE NEWS

U.S., China vow not to engage in economic cyberespionage

September 25, 2015, Washington Post, Kenneth Lieberthal

How tough will Obama be with Xi?

September 23, 2015, Politico, Jeffrey Bader

Xi Jinping's good will towards U.S. during early stage of political career

September 22, 2015, Xinhua News Agency, Cheng Li

Could China be Europe’s saviour?

September 18, 2015, World Finance, Jonathan Pollack

ABOUT THE JOHN L. THORNTON CHINA CENTER

The John L. Thornton China Center develops timely, independent analysis and policy recommendations to help U.S. and Chinese leaders address key long-term challenges, both in terms of U.S.-China relations and China's internal development.

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