Neil Bush visits the School of International Studies

On December 16, 2023, Neil Bush, Chairman of the George H.W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations, visited the School of International Studies at Renmin University of China. Neil Bush is the third son of former U.S. President George H.W. Bush, as well as younger brother of former U.S. President George W. Bush.

The delegation included former U.S. diplomats William Klein, Clifford Hart, and Mark Rosen, advisor at the U.S. Center for Naval Analyses . The visit was accompanied by Du Nongyi, a retired major general and Vice Chairman of China Institute for International Strategic Studies, and Wang Tianyi, President of the CIIC Group.

Zheng Xinye, Vice President of Renmin University, welcomed Bush and his delegation, noting the Bush family's significant contributions to U.S.-China relations and expressed hope for this visit to further improve these relations. Zheng introduced to the delegates the history of Renmin University and its role in the building of post-war China, highlighting the contributions of Renmin’s graduates in areas such as U.S.-China relations, climate change, women's rights protection, and poverty reduction. Zheng also expressed hope for strengthened visits and dialogues, expanding the scope and depth of cultural exchanges between China and the U.S.

Neil Bush, on his second visit to Renmin University, expressed his amazement at China's rapid changes over the years. Despite recent challenges in U.S.-China relations, he highlighted the enduring economic ties and investments between the two countries. Bush emphasized his commitment to advancing U.S.-China relations and encouraged more cultural exchanges.

The meeting included exchanges between Bush's delegation and the faculty and students of the School of International Studies at Renmin University of China, hosted by Vice Dean Li Chen. The event was also attended by Dean of the School of International Studies, Professor Yang Guangbin, as well as Professor Shi Yinhong, Ji Xianbai, Xu Yanyan, Wu Di, and a group of undergraduate and graduate students.

Dean Yang Guangbin welcomed Neil Bush and his delegation to Renmin University of China and introduced the development and status of the School of International Studies.

Bush pointed out that although he comes from a political family, he is not a politician himself. Instead, he participates in U.S.-China relations as a businessman. Mr. Bush mentioned the contributions of his father, President George H.W. Bush, to U.S.-China relations and the importance of cultural exchanges in building a trusted and cooperative relationship between the two countries. He expressed his happiness in continuing his father's legacy to bring the people of the U.S. and China closer in his own field. He encouraged the youth of both countries to participate in U.S.-China cooperation, especially in addressing issues like climate change. Other members of the American delegation also discussed their experiences and areas of focus, expressing a keen interest in listening to the perspectives and thoughts of Chinese scholars and students.

Discussions revolved around the main stabilizing factors in U.S.-China relations, crisis prevention, the establishment of control mechanisms, and scrutiny towards U.S. foreign investment. Students also engaged in discussions about the trends in U.S.-China relations and the impact of social media on international relations.

At the end of the meeting, Vice Dean Li Chen and Neil Bush gave closing remarks, expressing a shared hope for the School of International Studies at Renmin University and the Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations to work together in advancing Sino-U.S. cultural exchanges.