Abe's Visit, China dominates DC's schedule

For scores of Chinese and Japanese media outlets and politics junkies like me, April 25th of 2007 is certainly a busy day in Washington DC, Abe's weekend visit and various issues regarding China are going on from 9am to 5pm. Here is the list I compared for you. Want to go, call for information:

9:15 a.m. -- (TRADE/S.KOREA) FORUM -- The Global Business Dialogue, Inc. and KEIDANREN-USA (The Japanese Business Federation) hold a forum titled, "Quicker Pace, New Partners: FTAS in the Asia Pacific After April 1." Jeffrey Schott of the Peter G. Peterson Institute for International Economics; John Foarde, former staff director for the Congressional-Executive Commission on China; and Murray Hiebert of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, participate.

Location: National Press Club, 14th and F Streets NW

Contact: 202-463-5074

Noon -- (CHINA/ATTITUDES) DISCUSSION -- The Committee of 100 holds a luncheon program on "Taking the Pulse of China," a discussion of recent polls on evolving Chinese attitudes and the levels of satisfaction with Chinese institutions. Participants include Victor Yuan, founder and CEO of Horizon Research and vice president of China Marketing Research Association, and president of Beijing Consulting Association; Susan Lawrence and Kathy Chen, journalists who have spent considerable time in China.

Location: Army Navy Club, 901 17th Street NW

Contact: Rebecca Mond, 202-293-8144

12:30 p.m. -- (ROMANIA/DIPLOMACY) SPEECH -- The Elliott School of International Affairs host a speech by Mircea Munteanu, project associate at Woodrow Wilson Center's Cold War International History project, who discusses "The Bucharest Pony Express: Romanian Shuttle Diplomacy on Vietnam, China, and the Arab-Israeli Conflict."

Location: George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs, 1957 E Street NW, Voesar Conference Center, Room 412

Contact: 202-994-6240

1:45 p.m. -- (US-JAPAN/SECURITY) DISCUSSION -- The Elliott School of International Affairs hosts a discussion by Ellis Krauss, professor of Japanese politics and policymaking at the University of California, San Diego, titled, "Challenges for U.S.-Japan Relations: Koizumi's Legacy & Abe's Security Policies."

Location: George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs, 1957 E Street NW

Contact: 202-994-6240

3:30 p.m. -- (CHINA/COMMUNISM) FORUM -- The Woodrow Wilson Center (WWC) hosts a forum entitled, "The Chinese Communist Party: Bent, But Not Broken" Participants include Bruce Dickenson, WWC fellow and professor of political science and international affairs at the George Washington University; Cheng Li, professor of government at Hamilton College; Melanie Manion, professor of political science and public affairs at the University of Wisconsin; Yan Sun, professor of political science at the City University of New York Graduate Center and Queens College.

Location: WWC, One Woodrow Wilson Plaza, Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Contact: 202-691-4000

11 a.m. -- (JAPAN/DIPLOMACY) BRIEFING -- The Washington Foreign Press Center (WFPC) news briefing for foreign media on President Bush's upcoming meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Location: WFPC, National Press Building, 14th and F Street NW, Suite 800

Contact: 202-504-6320

5:30 p.m. -- (JAPAN/ASIA) DISCUSSION -- The Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) Middle East Perspectives Student Club hosts a discussion titled, "Does Japan Matter in Central Asia?" with Akio Kawato, visiting professor at Waseda University and former ambassador to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan; Evan Feigenbaum, deputy assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs; and S. Frederick Starr, chairman of the SAIS Central Asia-Caucasus Institute (moderating.).

Location: SAIS, Rome Building, 1619 Massachusetts Avenue NW

Contact: Felisa Neuringer Klubes, 202-663-5626