Cheng Li, the William R. Kenan Professor of Government and Brookings Institution non-resident fellow, participated in a panel discussion of the strategic relationships in Asia at the 34th Williamsburg Conference at Wye River in May. Titled "Asia 20/20: Focus on the Future," the conference included meetings and addresses by prominent leaders in business, politics and the media. They included U.S. Senator Joseph Biden, U.S. Senator Richard Lugar, Asia Society Chairman Richard C. Holbrooke, Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher, Singapore Ambassador-at-Large Tommy T.B. Koh, Institute for International Economics Director C. Fred Bergsten, Cambridge Energy Research Associates Chairman Daniel Yergin and New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof.
Li's presentation was titled "China's Future: A Paradox of Hope and Fear." In discussing recent changes in China, he emphasized Hu Jintao's populism and outlined some of his recent decisions and policy shifts. Li expressed optimism for China's future and its possible democratization via the emergence of a Chinese middle class, the recent rise of public awareness of citizen rights and interests, the diffusion of international norms and democratic values in society, the increase in the number of lawyers in the next generation of leadership, the growing demand for media freedom, the concern with improving China's international image, the desire to gain the hearts and minds of the Taiwanese people and the focus on the political impact of the upcoming Olympics. The "Strategic Relationships in Asia" panel's other participants included Carolina Hernandez, president of the Institute for Strategic and Development Studies, and the National Security Council's Acting Senior Director for East Asian Affairs Dennis Wilder.
