NEW YORK, April 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Committee
of 100—the first and longest-standing organization of prominent
Chinese Americans, founded in 1990 by individuals such as I.M.
Pei and Yo-Yo Ma—successfully
concluded its 25th anniversary celebrations with current
and former U.S. and Chinese government officials including Dr.
Henry Kissinger, U.S. Ambassadors
Gary Locke and Stapleton Roy, along with other diplomats
and business leaders such as Stephen
Schwarzman and Ronnie
Chan, who praised the organization for effectively
promoting the U.S.-China
relationship.
The organization's co-founders commenced the 25th
anniversary celebrations with a high-level Gala, where they
reflected on their accomplishments since the organization's
founding. "China was a very
different place 25 years ago," said Shirley
Young, a co-founder of the Committee of 100 who addressed
the state of China-U.S. affairs at the time of the founding of the
organization. "Frankly, there was a lack of understanding on
China," she continued.
Hundreds of U.S. and Chinese luminaries joined the Committee of
100 Gala Dinner on April
9th, where former Secretary of State Dr.
Henry Kissinger delivered a keynote
speech discussing the progress in U.S.-China relations and the significance of the
Committee of 100 in encouraging constructive dialogues to build
bridges between the two countries.
"Today we interact all over the world, but the effort and the
cooperation between the U.S. and China is essential for the peace of the
world," said Dr. Henry Kissinger,
who addressed the evolution of the cultural and political ties
between the United States and
China at the event. "Any great
achievement needs an inspiration. Both of the us can only benefit
from partnership, and the presidents of both countries have
dedicated themselves."
At the dinner, the Committee of 100 presented Niu Gensheng,
Honorary Chairman of the Lao Niu Foundation, and Sue Van, President of the Wallace H. Coulter
Foundation, with the Philanthropy Excellence Award.
On April 10th, the
Committee of 100 convened a group of Chinese and American
forward-thinking leaders involved in philanthropy, investment, and
policy-making to discuss strategic opportunities and challenges
between both the United States and
China.
Congresswoman Grace Meng, U.S.
Representative for New York's 6th
District, congratulated the Committee of 100 on its 25th
anniversary, during her opening remarks at the Summit. "We thank
the Committee of 100 for all their wonderful work and leadership.
Chinese Americans have worked for enormous achievements, but the
Committee of 100 has aided in the narrative," said Congresswoman
Meng.
The Summit featured discussions on global and cross-border
philanthropy with Blackstone CEO Steve
Schwarzman and C-100 member Ronnie
Chan; conversations about Chinese Americans and the upcoming
2016 federal elections were held with representatives from both the
Democratic National Committee and Republican Party, and remarks
from the Chinese Consul General in New
York, Ambassador Zhang
Quiyue, who said the events were an educational experience.
"I learned a little bit of the history of the Committee of 100 and
very much was touched by your courage and tenacity to foster
greater mutual understanding and setting up a constructive dialogue
between our two countries even in trying times," said Ambassador
Zhang.
The 25th anniversary celebrations of the Committee of
100 were sponsored by Clarence & Chin-lin Sha Kwan, J.T.
Tai & Co. Foundation, Guoqing
Chen, Louis XIII, Mr. & Mrs. Ronnie C. Chan, Tiffany & Co., United
Airlines, Waitex, and numerous other supporters.
For more information about the Committee of 100 and its
25th anniversary, visit www.committee100.org.
For media inquiries, contact: Colin Hart at
colinh@bljworldwide.com, +1-212-486-7070
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SOURCE Committee of 100