U.S.-China Diplomatic Dialogue (USCDD)
One of the most challenging aspects of U.S.-China relations today is a fundamental lack of mutual trust. The U.S.-China Diplomatic Dialogue is a track 1.5 dialogue for mid career Chinese and American diplomats that seeks to generate mutual trust and improve U.S.-China relations. It does so by creating an informal atmosphere outside of Washington and Beijing in which participants can establish personal relationships while frankly exchanging their views about bilateral relations.

2012: On April 5-7, the Institute brought together 14 mid-career Chinese and American diplomats in Norman for the 5th annual US-China Diplomatic Dialogue. The American participants came from the State Department, Treasury, and Commerce. The Chinese diplomats came from the PRC Embassy in Washington, as well as consulates in Chicago, LA, SF, Houston, and New York. They exchanged views on political, security, economic, and trade relations, and the sources of trust and mistrust in US-China relations. They also toured the football stadium and attended a Sooners softball game.

2011: On August 4-6, 2011, the OU Institute for US-China Issues and Fudan University brought together 12 Chinese and American diplomats in Yuexi County, Anhui Province for the fourth USCDD, which involved frank discussions of the sources of mutual mistrust in the bilateral relationship. The diplomats also experienced hiking in the mountains of Anhui.

2010: On April 2, 2010, the OU Institute for US-China Issues brought together 12 Chinese and American diplomats in Norman, Oklahoma for the third USCDD. It included one public event:

Conversation with American and Chinese diplomats on U.S.-China relations
12 noon Friday, 2 April 2010; Beaird Lounge, OMU

• 12-12:20. Welcome and opening remarks on U.S.-China relations.
• 12:20-12:40. Informal question & answer session with diplomats.
• This public event is part of the U.S.-China Diplomatic Dialogue, a track 1.5 retreat for mid-career American and Chinese diplomats working on U.S.-China relations.
  

2008: On the weekend of December 12-14, 2008, the OU Institute for US-China Issues brought together 14 mid-career Chinese and American diplomats for an informal retreat in Guilin, China. The American diplomats came from the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, as well as all four of the U.S. consulates around China; the Chinese diplomats all came from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing. They exchanged views on Sino-American relations under the newly elected Obama administration, the global financial crisis, and the implications of Ma Ying-jeou’s victory in Taiwan for U.S.-China relations.

2007: On October 3-6, 2007, OU hosted 14 mid-career diplomats from the US State Department and the PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the inaugural US-China Diplomatic Dialogue. The first USCDD discussed three issues: 1) Energy security and US-China relations, 2) Confidence Building and Crisis Management in US-China relations, and 3) the Taiwan Issue in US-China relations. Click on the picture below and then "slide show" at the bottom right to view a brief slide show of events.