The U.S.-China relationship is in the news nearly every day for economic, political, environmental and other reasons. To help Americans understand this dynamic relationship and answer their questions on the issues, the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations will conduct the seventh annual “China Town Hall: Local Connections, National Reflections,” featuring a live webcast and Q&A with former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, broadcast to more than 60 venues nationwide on Monday at 7 p.m.

The University of Virginia will host a viewing party in Nau Hall, room 101. The event, hosted by U.Va.’s East Asia Center, is free and open to the public.

Following the national portion of the program, Douglas G. Spelman will address topics of interest to the U.Va. gathering, including economics and trade, energy and the environment, security and other issues.

Spelman stepped down as deputy director of the Kissinger Institute on China and the United States in 2012, but remains affiliated with the institute as a senior adviser. Spelman received a B.A. from Oberlin College and his M.A. and Ph.D. in history and East Asian languages from Harvard University. In 1972, he served as an interpreter for the visit to the United States of the Chinese table tennis team. After several years spent teaching Chinese history at Bucknell University and managing student exchange programs in Taiwan and Hong Kong, in 1977 he joined the U.S. Foreign Service. From 2002 to 2005, he served as U.S. consul general in Shanghai. Spelman retired in 2007 with the rank of minister counselor in the Senior Foreign Service.

Albright was appointed the 64th, and first female, secretary of state in 1997. At the time, she was the highest-ranking woman in the history of the U.S. government. From 1993 to 1997, she served as the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations and was a member of the president’s Cabinet. She is now chair of Albright Stonebridge Group, a global strategy firm, and chairs Albright Capital Management LLC, an investment advisory firm focused on emerging markets. In 2012, President Obama selected Albright to receive the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in recognition of her contributions to international peace and democracy.

Albright’s discussion and responses to questions submitted by the nationwide audience will be moderated by Stephen Orlins, president of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. 

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