The Mansfield Congressional Study Tour in Asia program enables
a bi-partisan group of U.S. Congressional leaders to make trips
to Asia, providing them with an opportunity to develop in-depth
understanding of the region in areas of legislative and policy
interest. Through this program, which is inspired by Mike Mansfield’s
life-long interest in Asia, the Foundation seeks to build a corps
of Asian experts within the U.S. Congress and foster a greater
understanding among high-level decision makers in Asia and the
United States. The Mansfield Foundation arranges itineraries that
enable the Senators and members of Congress to meet with government
officials, business leaders, and NGO representatives as well as
to travel out of the major cities and into the countryside in order
to meet a wide range of people and learn about each country.
Before
discussing trade and agricultural issues, Senator Max Baucus (D-MT)
exchanged gifts with Minister Du Qinglin, Minister of Agriculture,
Beijing.
Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) was the most recent participant in the
Congressional Study Tour program. Accompanied by a twenty-four
member trade delegation, comprised of business leaders and ranchers,
Senator Baucus visited Beijing and Shanghai March 13-20, 2004.
In Beijing, Senator Baucus discussed economic and trade issues
with Minister of Agriculture Du Qinglin and Minister of Commerce
Bo Xilai. Following a lunch at the residence of U.S. Ambassador
Clark T. Randt, Senator Baucus met with Wu Bangguo, Chair of the
Standing Committee, National People’s Congress at the Great
Hall of the People in Beijing. In Shanghai, he received a warm
welcome from Mayor Han Zheng and Zhou Mu-yao, Vice Chair of the
Standing Committee, Committee of Shanghai Municipal People’s
Congress. A highlight of the trip was the Senator’s speech
before the WTO Institute, which received media coverage both in
China and the United States.
U.S. Ambassador to the PRC hosted Senator Baucus and the trade
delegation at a luncheon on March 16.
On March 17, 2004, while visiting Shanghai, Senator Max Baucus
spoke on economic and trade issues at the WTO Institute. Here he
poses with the entire Study Tour trade delegation outside the WTO
Affairs Consultation Center.
Senators Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Jack Reed (D-RI) each made three
trips to Asia under the auspices of the Study Tour program. While
crisscrossing China from east to west in 2000, 2001 and 2002, Senator
Bayh met with high-level government officials, regional officials,
university students, scholars, entrepreneurs and villagers and
farmers. During a Study Tour visit in Vietnam in 2002, he met with
the Vietnamese leadership, United Nations Development and World
Bank officials, as well as visiting villages outside of Hanoi.
Senator Bayh said of the experience, “I know it will enlighten
my public policy decision making throughout my career.”
Senator and Mrs. Bayh visit an Elementary School in the countryside
outside Hanoi during their 2002 Mansfield Study Tour trip.
Senator Jack Reed visited Japan twice, including Okinawa, and
he toured Taiwan and Hong Kong. While in China, over the course
of three years, he traveled by train, airplane and boat to fourteen
cities and towns, met with mayors and local elected officials as
well as with the senior leaders of China, toured factories and
joint venture projects and visited the Three Gorges Dam project.
Senator
Jack Reed's (D-RI) visit to China included a tour of factory sites.
Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT) made his first Study Group trip to
Tokyo and Beijing in 1998. In May 2002, Senator Burns returned
to Tokyo and while there renewed his acquaintance with some of
the Diet members he had met on his first trip. The Mansfield Fellows
currently working in Japan briefed Senator Burns on regional security
issues and Japan’s administrative reform.
Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT) meets with Japanese
Diet Members during his 2002 visit to Tokyo.
Since the inception of the program in 1998, Senators Jeff Bingaman
(D-NM and Craig Thomas (R-WY) also traveled to Asia under the auspices
of the program.
The program has received funding from The Starr Foundation and
the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission.
Before
discussing trade and agricultural issues, Senator Max Baucus (D-MT)
exchanged gifts with Minister Du Qinglin, Minister of Agriculture,
Beijing.
Senator
Jack Reed's (D-RI) visit to China included a tour of factory sites.