Petition to Congress on U.S.-China Cultural Engagement Act

In response to the bill, U.s.-china cultural Engagement Act, the National Council of Chinese Americans (NCCA) has prepared a letter urging all Chinse American who may support the bill to sign. The letter is reproduced as follows:

To Members of the United States Congress: We the undersigned Chinese Americans (and our organizations) are urging your support for the United States-China Cultural Engagement Act, cosponsored by Senator Joseph Lieberman and Senator Lamar Alexander, and for the forthcoming corresponding House bill.

As we all know, China has been undergoing profound changes since the late 1970s, when the government introduced its open-door and reform policy. Today China is poised to become a leading world power in the spheres of economics, science, culture, and politics. As a result, U.S.- China relations have taken on paramount importance for the United States in the twenty-first century.

In this context the introduction of the United States-China Cultural Engagement Act is a far- sighted, long-term undertaking to enhance our understanding of China, to improve relations with China, and to prepare the United States for the comprehensive engagement with China, by providing our children opportunities to better understand Chinese language and culture.

As Chinese Americans, we are keenly aware of how important this bill is for the people of the United States, since we ourselves have served, over the generations, as a bridge between the two languages and civilizations. More knowledge, more dialogue, and more understanding between us and China will surely benefit both nations and indeed the world. Undoubtedly, this is one of the best investments we as a nation can make.

Once again, we appeal to you through this petition to support, and vote for, this historic bill.

NCCA is a not-for-profit, bi-partisan, public-affairs and public policy organization, consisting primarily of Chinese Americans of diverse backgrounds