Press Releases

This morning, Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chairwoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11), Members of the CBC, Marc Morial, CEO of the National Urban League, and Presidents from four Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) met with Madame Liu Yandong, Vice Premier of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Ministers within the Chinese government to discuss increasing opportunities for African American students, and particularly students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), to participate in cultural and educational exchanges in China.

During the meeting, CBC Chair Marcia L. Fudge discussed the need for more African Americans and HBCU students to have experiences that enhance their understanding of their role in a highly interconnected global economy.  Chairwoman Fudge and CBC Members also highlighted the importance of international educational experiences that will better equip students to address contemporary issues facing our world.

To address this need, Madame Liu Yandong, Alexander Tzang, Special Advisor, China-United States Exchange Foundation and Ben Wu, Vice Chairman, US-Asia Institute, committed to bringing 400 students from districts represented by CBC Members to study in China over the next four years as a part of the 100,000 Strong Initiative. The Vice Premier, Mr. Tzang, and Yuan Guiren, Minister of Education for the PRC, expressed how important this program will be in ensuring students from America’s urban communities are able to see themselves as the global leaders of today and tomorrow.

Chairwoman Fudge and Madame Liu reaffirmed their personal commitment to working toward providing economic development opportunities for African American communities and small businesses by building a stronger relationship between the CBC and the PRC, and for African Americans to learn more about Chinese culture through people-to-people exchanges.  This was the second meeting between the CBC and Madame Liu, following the CBC’s first delegation to China in August 2013.

Participants in the meeting included:

• Rep. Marcia L. Fudge, Chair, Congressional Black Caucus
• Rep. Charles Rangel  (NY-13)
• Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18)
• Rep. Elijah Cummings (MD-07)
• Rep. Barbara Lee (CA-13)
• Rep. Cedric Richmond (LA-02)
   
• Vice Premier Liu Yandong, People’s Republic of China
• Marc Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League
• Alexander Tzang, Special Advisor, China-United States Exchange Foundation
• Ben Wu, Vice Chairman, US-Asia Institute
• Dr. Wayne Frederick, President, Howard University
• Dr. Beverly Wade-Hogan, President, Tougaloo College
• Dr. Norman Francis, President, Xavier University
• Dr. David Wilson, President, Morgan State University

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