On May 2, the 2018 Washington Seminar began at the Hilton Garden Inn in Arlington, Virginia, with an evening registration and welcoming meet-and-greet reception.On May 2, the 2018 Washington Seminar began at the Hilton Garden Inn in Arlington, Virginia, with an evening registration and welcoming meet-and-greet reception.The following morning,

May 3, attendees were bused to the Supreme Court, where they enjoyed a guided tour of the courtroom.Around noon, members went first to the National Museum of African-American History and Culture for a fascinating and moving visit, and then on to the Sackler Museum for a tour of “Encountering the Buddha.”The evening was graced with a tour of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and a reception hosted by Minister Xu Xueyuan.

May 4 was a day of presentations, begun with a breakfast in the Gavel Room followed by registration by Christine Aylward. Kitty Trescott tended the Center for Teaching About China, and there were regional meetings.Aylward. Kitty Trescott tended the Center for Teaching About China, and there were regional meetings.Diana Greer, the USCPFA national president, did a welcoming presentation.Jason Lee, president of the USCPFA Los Angeles chapter, did a fascinating PowerPoint presentation on “The Three Soong Sisters and their Contributions to Sino-U.S. Relations.”Robert Sutter, Professor of Practice of International Affairs at George Washington University, did a pithy presentation on “21st-Century U.S.–China Relations: Equilibrium Ends with Challenges and Responses, Spiraling Downward.”Ralph Winnie of the Eurasia Center offered a presentation on Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area project.After lunch, Madeline Clough from the US-Asia Institute explained the work of her organization, which helps Congressional staff understand key issues related to U.S.–China relations. She said USAI sends congressional delegations to China (nine this year) in partnership with the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs and the National People’s Congress. Their Rule of Law program hosts a group of top Chinese law students in D.C. every year. USAI also welcomes visiting delegations from North and Southeast Asia.Then Vice President Xie Yuan of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries presented the keynote address. He was followed by Wayne Morrison of the Congressional Research Service, who presented another pithy talk: “U.S.–China Trade Tremors: What’s Shaking?”He was followed by Wayne Morrison of the Congressional Research Service, who presented another pithy talk: “U.S.–China Trade Tremors: What’s Shaking?”USCPFA Richmond author Jinny Batterson’s childhood attempts to dig through the earth to China eventually led to her writing Where the Great Wall Ends. She read an excerpt from this book. -- From Jane Lael USCR Editor Summer 2018.