World Affairs Council 'World Spins' Presents China, Innovation and Austin
David Firestein, inaugural executive director, China Public Policy Center, LBJ School of Public Affairs, University of Texas
Tues., May 22 at 6:30 pm
(Free parking in the back. Come a few minutes early: A food truck will be available with vegetarian and carnivorous offerings.)
How many diplomat-scholar-negotiators do you know from Austin, Texas who speak near-native Mandarin and have written a book on the use of country music in diplomacy?
David Firestein is firing up UT's China Public Policy Center, charged with leading UT's institutional engagement with China and oversees innovative interdisciplinary research on China-related domestic and foreign policy topics.Prior to joining UT, Firestein served as senior vice president and Perot Fellow at the EastWest Institute; there, he led the Institute’s work in the areas of U.S.-China relations, East Asian security and U.S.-Russia relations.
Throughout his career, Firestein has played an active role advancing U.S.-China and U.S.-Asia trade. He has also produced path-breaking thought leadership, scholarship and Capitol Hill testimony on a range of topics, including U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, U.S.-China infrastructure investment cooperation, and the role of national exceptionalism as a driver of major international conflict today. Firestein was also a principal architect of the U.S.-China High-Level Political Party Leaders Dialogue.
