"China and Latin America and the Caribbean: A Promising Future" will be the focus of a lecture next Tuesday by the Vice Chair of the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress, Cheng Siwei. The presentation is part of the monthly Lecture Series of the Americas offered by the Organization of American States (OAS).

The lecture will be followed by a discussion of the topic by a panel of experts: Brian Bachner, a China Specialist at the Library of Congress; Cynthia Watson, Professor of Strategy, The National War College; and Alex Foxley, Commercial Attaché at the Embassy of Chile in Washington. Irene Klinger, Coordinator of the Lecture Series, will moderate the panel session.

The Lecture Series of the Americas was created by the OAS Permanent Council to promote democratic principles and values in the countries of the hemisphere by hosting monthly conferences with internationally known speakers on key issues of the hemispheric agenda, such as the strengthening of democracy, human rights, social development, hemispheric security and the fight against poverty. This year’s conferences are being held thanks to a financial contribution from Peru’s San Martín de Porres University and support from the governments of the People’s Republic of China and the Hellenic Republic.

Cheng Siwei will take questions from the media and the general public immediately following his presentation. The conference will be transmitted live on the OAS Web site (www.oas.org).

WHAT:   Cheng Siwei, Vice Chair of the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress, headlines the Lecture Series of the Americas

WHEN:   Tuesday, December 6, 3 p.m.

WHERE: Hall of the Americas
OAS Headquarters
17th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C.

Reference: AVI-130/05