The world is entering a critical transitional and defining moment, as the 2008-2009 financial crisis has painfully demonstrated. The crisis has forced people to re-evaluate or challenge many well accepted existing political, social and financial-economical theories, models, policies and practices. Policies and actions taken by key countries in the coming months, especially U.S. and China, will have profound and long lasting effects on the future of the world.
The U.S.-China relationship is one of the most important bilateral relationships in the 21st century. A peaceful, constructive and mutually beneficial relationship is not only a necessary condition for the development of the whole world, but is also vitally important to the well being of the Chinese American community. The biggest threatening factor to the U.S. - China relationship is the potential instability across the Taiwan Strait. Although China-Taiwan relations have improved tremendously in the recent months, a lasting peace can only be accomplished with a reunification of Taiwan and China. But this should be accomplished gradually and peacefully by restoring mutual trust, establishing common values, promoting convergent aspirations, and seeking mutually acceptable political solutions. Therefore, the theme of the conference is “Peaceful Reunification of China: opportunities and Challenges in the Critical Transitional Period of Mankind.”