The Asia Foundation

The Asia Foundation and the Chinese Academy of Governance (CAG) today signed a formal agreement to cooperate on the Disaster Leadership Management and Coordination project. In the run-up to the signing ceremony, the Foundation has been working closely with the newly-established National Institute of Emergency Management (NIEM) at CAG on this two-year project that aims to improve NIEM’s capacity in research, training, and advisory support. The project is funded through the United States Agency for International Development’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA).

Project activities include strategic planning; experience sharing study tours to the United States and Southeast Asia; curriculum development; training programs for senior government officials and operational officials involved in disaster management; carrying out research; and providing policy recommendations.

“China and the United States face many similar challenges in disaster management, and it is important that our two countries learn from each other’s experiences and lessons in managing a wide range of disasters in vast and diverse geographic landscapes. As China and the United States further engage on global governance issues, we also hope that this project could set the stage for enhanced bilateral cooperation on disaster management in the region and the world,” Jonathan Stromseth, China Country Representative for The Asia Foundation, said.

With its vast territory and diverse climatic and geological conditions, China is subject to numerous and varied natural, health and industrial disasters. Major disasters over the past several years have prompted the government to take serious steps to improve its disaster management system. Yet, as the Chinese government also notes, many challenges still need to be addressed in its work to reduce risks and consequences of natural disasters. To help it achieve the goal of improving the effectiveness of emergency management in China, the State Council established  NIEM at the Chinese Academy of Governance (formerly the Chinese National School of Administration). Reporting to the State Council and housed within CAG, NIEM is tasked with becoming the country’s leading organization for disaster management training, policy research, and advisory support; and the main platform for international exchanges and cooperation in this field.

“As two big countries in the world, China and the United States both are confronted with complex crisis management tasks. Exchanges between these two nations on crisis management will help China learn from the best practices from the United States and deepen bilateral cooperation in this field,” said Hong Yi, Vice President of CAG.

The Foundation has a longstanding partnership with CAG, having worked with its Law Department on administrative law programs. For the past few years, the Foundation has worked with the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MOCA) and local civil affairs bureaus to promote public-private partnership in disaster management. The Foundation also worked on a number of earthquake recovery projects after the Wenchuan earthquake, including a USAID/OFDA-supported project to promote safe rebuilding in rural areas and school disaster risk reduction education. Through Give2Asia, founded by the Foundation to promote philanthropy in Asia, $15.8 million was raised for earthquake relief and recovery efforts.

The Asia Foundation's China Country Representative Jonathan Stromseth (seated, left) signs a formal agreement with Director General Qiao Renyi of the Chinese Academy of Governance to cooperate on the Disaster Leadership Management and Coordination project.

The Asia Foundation’s China office convened on May 13-14 a group of Chinese and international policy experts for a workshop to develop innovative ways of measuring changes in governance in China.  The meeting was organized under the Chinese Governance Assessment Project (C-GAP) – a Foundation-supported research study examining changes in public participation, transparency, and accountability in China and assessing whether these changes are associated with key governance outcomes such as improved legal compliance, reduced corruption, and better public service delivery.

At the workshop, research teams presented chronologies of Chinese governance reforms along with detailed research methodologies for analyzing the effectiveness of these initiatives. The methodological discussion focused on selecting the best indicators to capture changes in transparency, participation, and accountability within the Chinese polity over time and across provinces. For instance, the transparency team developed indicators for assessing the openness of government information, while the participation team proposed to examine the percentage of draft laws and regulations requiring public comment.

By the final session, the teams had produced comprehensive lists of specific indicators to measure their governance concepts as well as promising strategies for gathering data and information. More importantly, a consensus developed among participants that C-GAP is a unique endeavor in China that is breaking new theoretical and empirical ground.  Researchers from Chinese universities discussed how the project would help shape the understanding and future analysis of governance in China, and international participants expressed confidence that the project will provide new insights into the Chinese development model.

The C-GAP initiative, which will produce book-length manuscripts in English and Chinese, is being carried out in collaboration with the China Center for Overseas Social and Philosophical Theories, and the Center for Public Participation Studies and Support at Peking University Law School. It builds on governance programs supported by The Asia Foundation in China focusing on public participation in lawmaking, open government information, administrative procedure reform, performance evaluation of government officials, and other related topics.

San Francisco

The Asia Foundation and the Asia Society present:

The Future of Democracy in China

with special guests

Harry Harding
Dean, Batten School of Leadership & Public Policy, University of Virginia
Trustee, The Asia Foundation

Minxin Pei
Senior Associate, China Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Orville Schell
Arthur Ross Director, Asia Society Center on U.S.-China Relations

Jonathan R. Stromseth
The Asia Foundation’s Country Representative, China

Monday, October 5, 2009

What are the prospects for democratic reform in China? Some say thirty years of successful economic reforms, bringing unprecedented prosperity and giving rise to a new middle class will inevitably lead to political opening. Others argue that this very success has made the Communist Party’s hold on power stronger than ever. Still others express concern that growing social and economic tensions will lead to conflict and instability. Please join our distinguished panel, co-sponsored by the Asia Society, for a discussion of China’s remarkable transformation and political future.

Speakers:

Harry Harding is Dean of the University of Virginia’s Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. Dr. Harding is a vice-chairman of the Asia Foundation board, a director of the Atlantic Council of the United States, a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, and a member of the Board of Governors of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He has written extensively on China and US-China relations.

Minxin Pei is senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and director of the Keck Center for International and Strategic Studies at Claremont McKenna College. Dr. Pei has written broadly on China, including, recently, “Think Again: Asia’s Rise,” in Foreign Policy. He is a frequent commentator on the BBC and NPR, and has written op-eds for the Financial Times, New York Times, Washington Post, Newsweek International, and International Herald Tribune.

Orville Schell is the Arthur Ross director of the Asia Society Center on U.S.-China Relations. Previously, he worked for the Ford Foundation in Indonesia, covered the war in Indochina as a journalist, and was a professor and dean at the University of California, Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism. He has served as a commentator for network news programs and been a correspondent and consultant for many PBS “Frontline” documentaries and an Emmy award-winning program for “60 Minutes.” Schell is the author of fourteen books, including nine about China, and has written for numerous magazines, including The China Quarterly and The New Yorker.

Jonathan R. Stromseth is The Asia Foundation’s Country Representative to China. Based in Beijing, Dr. Stromseth is an expert on governance and politics, legal reform, political economy and international relations. Before moving to China, Dr. Stromseth established The Asia Foundation’s office in Hanoi, worked for the United Nations peacekeeping operation in Cambodia, and taught at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the National Committee on United States-China Relations. Dr. Stromseth’s commentary has appeared in the Asian Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, International Herald Tribune, Christian Science Monitor, Bloomberg News, and Marketplace.

Co-Sponsored by The Asia Society and World Affairs Council of Northern California

Monday, October 5, 2009
Program 6:00 – 7:15 pm

Location:
World Affairs Council of Northern California
312 Sutter Street, Suite 200
San Francisco, California

To register for this special event please click here to go to the World Affairs Council website. Or call 415-293-4600.

As a guest of The Asia Foundation, please register at reduced “member” rate of $5.

Advanced registration is recommended for guaranteed seating. However, pre-registration is not required and walk-ins on the day of this program are welcome.

“Global Priorities: Critical Choices for the Obama Administration.”

On the heels of releasing its recommendations for the new U.S. administration – America’s Role in Asia – The Asia Foundation will co-sponsor the World Affairs Council’s 63rd Annual World Conference, “Global Priorities: Critical Choices for the Obama Administration.”  On April 2-3, 2009, in San Francisco, political leaders, policymakers, scholars, and diplomats will gather to examine, and debate these issues at this turning point in U.S. history. Asia Foundation President Doug Bereuter will moderate a session on emerging economies, China, India and sovereign wealth funds, and other Asia Foundation experts are slated to participate on additional panels. Co-sponsors receive a special discounted rate: sign up for the member price. For more information about the event, and nonmember pricing, please visit the World Affairs Council website.

Washington, D.C.

February 26, 2009
3:00 – 4:30 pm
1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20009
Choate Foyer & Room, 1st Floor

Scott Snyder, Center for U.S.-Korea Policy Director and Senior Associate at The Asia Foundation, will discuss the findings of his new book, China’s Rise and the Two Koreas: Politics, Economics, Security, which explores the transformation of the Sino-South Korean relationship since the early 1990s. By assessing the strategic significance of recent developments in China’s relationship with both North and South Korea and the likely consequences for U.S. and Japanese influence in the region, this meticulous study lends important context to critical debates regarding China’s foreign policy, Northeast Asian security, and international relations more broadly.

David Lampton, George and Sadie Hyman Professor of China Studies and Director of the China Studies Program at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, will provide comments.

Copies of China’s Rise and the Two Koreas will be available for purchase.

To RSVP for this event, please contact rsvp@asiafound-dc.org.

Asia Foundation Director of Economic Reform and Development Programs, Bruce Tolentino, gave a presentation on U.S.-China Trade Policy at the World Affairs Council in San Francisco. Watch the video.

San Francisco

The Asia Foundation has received support from the Henry Luce Foundation for a three-year exchange program to promote education and dialogue on Sino-American relations. The project will include: 12 master’s degree fellowships for junior staff selected from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to attend the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at The Johns Hopkins University; three study tours to China for a total of 30 American graduate students from Fletcher and SAIS; and three bilateral dialogue events in Beijing for approximately 150 participants.

Through this program, participants from both sides of the Pacific will explore contemporary issues that influence Sino-American relations, including current foreign aid policy, East Asia community building, and the environment, as well as domestic factors that shape Chinese and American approaches to regional and global affairs.

The Asia Foundation has maintained exchanges between China and the U.S. for the past 26 years, and the Henry Luce Foundation’s support allows the program to expand. The first group of Fellows will begin classes in the Fall.

On May 29, The Wall Street Journal published an article on options for giving to Burma and China following the natural disasters that have occurred there in recent weeks. The Asia Foundation and its affiliate Give2Asia are cited. Read the article.

Give2Asia will host a briefing on China relief and recovery, Thursday, May 29, to discuss China Earthquake relief efforts with three perspectives from China. Speakers will include Jonathan Stromseth, The Asia Foundation’s Representative in China.

See event details.

The Asia Foundation’s China Representative, Jonathan Stromseth, was quoted in a recent Financial Times story about the earthquake in China. Read the full story.

By Caroline Preston, The Chronicle of Philanthropy

American relief groups have raised at least $41-million for victims of the China earthquake and the Myanmar cyclone. The groups say about $22-million has been donated for aid to earthquake survivors and $19-million for those harmed by the cyclone.

The vast majority of money raised in the United States for the earthquake has gone to the American Red Cross, which has brought in more than $10-million in gifts and pledges. The charity has raised more than $4-million since May 2 for an international relief fund, as well as $1.5-million for Myanmar.

Christy Feig, director of international communications, said she expected that gifts would continue to mount, particularly for earthquake victims.

“We do expect to still see contributions come in,” she said. “We know a lot of our chapters, especially in places with large Chinese-American communities, still have fund raisers scheduled.”

Give2Asia and Mercy Corps were among two other charities that reported higher fund-raising results for the earthquake. Give2Asia has brought in nearly $3-million for the earthquake, compared with $70,000 for cyclone victims. Mercy Corps has raised $2.67-million for China and $886,000 for Myanmar.

Meanwhile, the Business Roundtable, an association of more than 160 large companies, said its members have given more than $16-million in cash, products, and services to victims of the earthquake, compared with $4.1-million to support relief efforts in Myanmar.

But several large relief groups, including Save the Children and World Vision, have seen greater success in raising donations for Myanmar.

Save the Children has raised nearly $4.5-million in pledges and gifts from U.S donors for the cyclone, compared with $269,000 for earthquake victims. The charity has received $1-million for Myanmar through the Web alone, the highest online response it’s seen since the 2004 Asian tsunamis.

World Vision has raised $4.6-million for Myanmar and $675,000 for China. It has also brought in an additional $300,000 through its disaster fund, money that could be spent on either disaster.

Mike Kiernan, a spokesman for Save the Children, said his group was just beginning to put a push behind fund raising for China. The charity planned to focus not on providing immediate relief but on helping to meet the longer-term needs of children left homeless by the disaster.

Other charities raising money for the crises include:

* CARE has raised $4-million in pledges and gifts for Myanmar. The charity is not raising money for earthquake victims because it does not work in China.

* Direct Relief International has raised $527,000 for the Myanmar catastrophe. It has not yet issued an appeal for China.

* Foundation for the People of Burma has raised $500,000 for cyclone victims.

* Operation USA has raised $110,000 for Myanmar and $106,000 for China.

* The Salvation Army has raised $76,000 for the two disasters, the majority of which has been earmarked for people in Myanmar.

Foundation and Corporate Grants

Foundations and corporations have contributed to both efforts. Following is a sampling of grants that have been made thus far:

* Abbott Fund: To provide water, food, and sanitation services for people affected by the recent cyclone in Myanmar: $250,000 to CARE (Atlanta).

* AIG American International Companies: To support disaster-relief efforts following the recent earthquake in China: $1,000,000 to Give2Asia (San Francisco, Calif.).

* Boeing Company: To support its disaster-relief efforts following the recent earthquake in China: $250,000 to American National Red Cross (Washington, D.C.).

* Chevron Corporation: To support disaster relief for people affected by the recent cyclone in Myanmar: $1-million to the International Federation of the Red Cross (Geneva), and $1-million to be divided among the International Organization for Migration (Geneva, Switzerland), Mercy Corps (Portland, Ore.), Pact (Washington), and Save the Children (Westport, Conn.).

* ConocoPhillips: To support its disaster-relief efforts following the recent earthquake in China: $285,000 to Red Cross Society of China (Beijing, China).

* FedEx Corporation: To support its disaster-relief efforts following the recent earthquake in China: $286,000 to Red Cross Society of China (Beijing, China).

* Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: For emergency-relief efforts for people affected by the recent cyclone in Myanmar: $1-million each to CARE (Atlanta), Save the Children (Westport, Conn.), and World Vision (Federal Way, Wash.).

* General Mills Foundation: To support its disaster-relief efforts following the recent earthquake in China: $500,000 to American National Red Cross (Washington, D.C.).

* Goldman Sachs Group: To support its disaster-relief efforts following the recent earthquake in China: $500,000 to Mercy Corps (Portland, Ore.).

* Merrill Lynch: To support orphanages, provide counseling for children, and rebuild 14 schools that were damaged during the recent earthquake in China: $1,000,000 to China Youth Development Foundation (Beijing, China). Also to support relief efforts for people affected by the recent cyclone in Myanmar: $500,000 each to American National Red Cross (Washington, D.C.) and Unicef (New York, N.Y.).

* Western Union Foundation: To support its disaster-relief efforts following the recent earthquake in China: $250,000 to Mercy Corps (Portland, Ore.).

— M.J. Prest contributed to this article.

San Francisco-based landmark effort has provided critical services to close to a million women

San Francisco

Two San Francisco-based organizations are leading the effort to provide Chinese migrant women workers with free social services, education and legal aid. The Levi Strauss Foundation enters its ninth year of partnership with The Asia Foundation – San Francisco’s largest international charity – with a $200,000 grant to continue to best serve the immediate needs of migrant women workers in China, protecting migrant women’s rights, and providing educational and legal services, while expanding the project into new regions. Both organizations are participating in this week’s Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) conference in San Francisco.

China’s rapid economic development has brought a mass migration of workers from the country’s rural inland to the booming southern and eastern industrial cities to pursue the promise of high-paying jobs. On the way, these migrant laborers leave behind not just their families, but also social and community support and services. Since 1999, The Asia Foundation, with the support of the Levi Strauss Foundation, has been working to ensure that migrant women workers – who make up sixty percent of all migrant labor in Guangdong province – are provided free education and counseling, occupational health and safety training, HIV/AIDS awareness education, and legal services.

The Asia Foundation’s staff in Beijing works with local government agencies, Chinese women’s organizations, labor unions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academic leaders, and workers to build social support networks and deliver services to migrant women workers. To date, the Foundation has provided assistance to more than 850,000 migrant women workers from more than 1,000 factories in 22 cities and districts in China’s Pearl River Delta, more than 50 factories in the Lower Yangtze River, and in Beijing municipality and has helped enhance joint policy making in favor of migrant workers.

“Our nine-year partnership with The Asia Foundation has reached hundreds of thousands of migrant women workers in Guangdong province and will now further expand into Jiangsu and Beijing. The Asia Foundation program provides access to critical worker-rights and life-skills services and information that ultimately provide opportunities for advancement and improve the quality of life for women workers living away from their families and villages,” said Theresa Fay-Bustillos, Executive Director of the Levi Strauss Foundation.

“A safe working and living environment, with real opportunities for securing the additional skills for advancement by China’s migrant laborers, should be a widely shared goal,” Douglas Bereuter, President of The Asia Foundation said. “Through responsible corporate initiatives businesses operating within China are well-positioned and should be motivated to take a proactive role in supporting such conditions and employee improvement opportunities.”

At this week’s BSR conference, which runs from October 23-26, representatives from The Asia Foundation’s Beijing office will present on the current climate for NGOs operating in China, based on its own strong record of cooperation with Chinese government and civil society organizations in implementing vital social services and legal rights programs for workers.

Beijing

More than 90 representatives from Chinese government disaster management agencies, Chinese and international enterprises and non-government organizations attended The Asia Foundation’s Private Sector Disaster Management Workshops in Beijing and Shanghai last week. The workshops launched The Asia Foundation’s two-year project to enhance private sector participation in, and contributions to, community-level disaster preparedness, risk reduction, and relief initiatives. The project encourages multi-sectoral approaches to disaster management aimed at promoting greater collaboration among government agencies, private enterprises, and local charities and relief organizations. This effort is being supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

As one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, every year China has more than 200 million people affected and thousands killed by natural disasters. Annual economic losses account for 1-2% percent of GDP. While disaster management systems are well advanced in terms of physical structure and government processes, involvement of the private sector and non-governmental organizations has been limited.

The workshops were designed to raise awareness of disaster preparedness among Chinese and U.S. companies operating in China. Speakers included an international disaster management expert and representatives from the Public-Private Partnerships for Disaster Management program’s key partners: the Department of Disaster and Social Relief of the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MOCA), the International Department of the Chinese Enterprise Confederation (CEC), and the American Chambers of Commerce (AmCham).

“I am convinced that this workshop will further catalyse the communication and cooperation between industry, government and civil society both in China and abroad. It will help spread the values of corporate social responsibility farther and wider,” Wang Zhenyao, Director General of the Department of Disaster and Social Relief of MOCA, said in Beijing on Monday.

“We can see that these workshops have already demonstrated a strong and growing collaboration among government agencies, private enterprises, and non-governmental organizations. We look forward to forging even greater collaboration as we carry out the many project activities that lie ahead,” Jonathan Stromseth, China Country Representative of The Asia Foundation, said.

The project also supports activities in communities in two coastal cities, Qingdao and Ningbo, both of which are frequently affected by natural disasters and have vibrant and growing business communities with the potential to participate in disaster preparedness and relief activities. The project is also conducting private sector workshops in these cities and will carry out disaster management training for local charities and community groups, community-based public-awareness campaigns, and vulnerability reduction projects. Next year, the project will also include training workshops in disaster preparedness for the private sector. Ultimately, the project aims to create a collaborative model of community-based preparedness and mitigation initiatives that can be replicated outside immediate project areas.

Nanjing

Today, The Asia Foundation, with the support of Federated Department Stores, Inc., and in partnership with Nanjing Women’s Federation, launched the first-ever scholarship program for migrant women workers in Jiangsu Province. The program will support 26 migrant women workers over the course of three years to pursue vocational and university degrees, build their capacity to improve their living standards, enhance their development potential, and help them advance their careers.

Xu Huiling, Vice Mayor of Nanjing; Dr. Jonathan R. Stromseth, The Asia Foundation’s Country Representative for China; and Ms. Chen Liqin, Chairwoman of Nanjing Women’s Federation attended the launch event. “This program will help migrant women workers in Nanjing better integrate into the city,” Vice Mayor Xu Huiling said.

“The long-term support for migrant women workers, already provided by the Nanjing Women’s Federation over several years, has established a solid foundation for the implementation of the program. I hope this program will inspire more and more migrant women workers to pursue their dreams, develop their potential, and make greater contributions for the development of Jiangsu Province,” Jonathan Stromseth said.

The program will support migrant women workers over the age of 17 who have worked in Nanjing for more than a year. The scholarship will cover tuition, fees, and textbooks. Students with extreme financial difficulties may also apply for a partial living cost subsidy as well. After the scholarship recipients finish their programs, the Nanjing Women’s Federation will also help them find jobs.

To date, 46 migrant women workers have applied for scholarship assistance. One applicant is Ms. Zhou Qian , a 20-year-old from Anhui Province. After finishing junior high school, she had to leave school because her family did not have sufficient income to support her to continue her studies. She came to Nanjing to work and found a job as a salesperson in a wholesale market. Last October, she broke her ankle in a car accident and, as a result, lost her job and is now unemployed. Speaking at the launch ceremony, she said, “This is a great opportunity for me to fulfill my dream of continuing my study. I will grab this chance and work hard to develop myself.”

Beijing

The Asia Foundation, with the support of The Boeing Company and in partnership with Beijing Fuping Development Institute, launched the Social Innovation Fund today by awarding loans to migrant workers to start their own businesses. The one-year pilot program, “Enhancing Economic and Social Opportunities for Migrant Women Workers in Beijing,” will create economic opportunities for migrant workers in China’s capital.

Three migrant workers who submitted business plans for an online clothing store, a computer accessories store, and a garment processing shop received small loans to start their business at the award ceremony. Mr. David Wang, President of Boeing (China) Co. Ltd, Dr. Jonathan R. Stromseth, Country Representative for China of The Asia Foundation, and Mr. Mao Yushi, Chair of Board of Beijing Fuping Development Institute attended.

The Social Innovation Fund will fund 10 to 15 applicants over the course of the program. In addition to providing loans, the program also provides business and legal training.

“The Boeing Company has a long history of supporting charity worldwide. To be a good corporate citizen is an indispensable part of the ethics of The Boeing Company and a core value of the company. Over the past 35 years, Boeing and China have been partners and friends. Boeing is proud of its friendship with China and appreciates the trust and support from the Chinese people.” Mr. David Wang, Vice President of The Boeing Company and President of Boeing (China) Co. Ltd, said.

“With Boeing’s support and Fuping Institute’s partnership for the social innovation fund, The Asia Foundation is able to expand its migrant women workers program of the past seven years from the Pearl River Delta and Lower Yangtze River Valley to Beijing and provide opportunities for migrant workers to pursue their career goals.” Dr. Jonathan R. Stromseth, Country Representative for China of The Asia Foundation said.

Beijing

The Boeing Company has awarded a new grant to The Asia Foundation to expand its longstanding programs to support migrant women workers. Through this program, for the first time, The Asia Foundation program will target Beijing’s migrant worker community. Beijing is home to more than 4 million migrant workers, over 25% of the city’s population. Unlike migrant workers in the Pearl River Delta clustered in industrial communities, workers in Beijing are scattered throughout the city and often lack any social support networks.

The one-year pilot program, “Enhancing Economic and Social Opportunities for Migrant Women Workers in Beijing,” will create economic opportunities and social benefits for migrant workers in Beijing. The program will include training on establishing small businesses, provide seed funds for those interested in starting their own businesses, and create mutual-help groups for migrant workers.

Since 1999, The Asia Foundation has supported migrant women workers in China’s Pearl River Delta through a series of groundbreaking activities to address their most critical needs: education and counseling, occupational health and safetly training, HIV/AIDS awareness, legal services, and vocational skills training. Foundation programs have provided services for more than 700,000 migrant women workers in more than 200 factories in 22 cities and districts along China’s Pearl River Delta. In 2006, The Asia Foundation began expanding its programs to Zhejiang and Jiangsu, in China’s Lower Yangtze River Valley.

The Asia Foundation and Boeing have partnered on a number of other initiatives, including the Boeing Distinguished Visitors program, which is designed to promote understanding, exchange, and dialogue between distinguished senior Chinese officials and U.S. counterparts.

For more information on The Asia Foundation’s work with Boeing and other corporations, download the pdf , “Corporate Partnerships.”

The Asia Foundation, the Microsoft Corporation, and the Guangdong Women’s Professional Technical College recently opened a new information technology learning center for migrant women workers and local community members in Panyu, China. The center, hosted by the Guangdong Women’s Professional Technical College, aims to provide migrant women workers and community members, particularly those from disadvantaged groups, with information technology (IT) skills that will help to increase their career opportunities in the future. More than 2000 migrant women workers and other community members will receive basic IT training at the center in the course of the two-year program.

The Panyu center is part of the Foundation’s broader migrant women worker program in China and is a component of a larger first-of-its-kind program in Guangdong to teach computer skills to migrant women workers. This is the second Community Technology Learning Center (CTLC) The Asia Foundation has opened in Guangdong with the support of the Microsoft Corporation, and the Guangdong Women’s Professional Technical College.

In the first year of this program, more than 1,000 women workers learned IT skills and many also learned how to become IT trainers themselves at the first CTLC in Sanxiang Township, Zhongshan City, Guangdong.

Microsoft generously supported the programs with software and a $100,000 grant, the Guangdong Women’s Professional Technical College is contributing funds to purchase of computers, house the CTLC, and provide internet access and computer maintenance.

The Guangdong Women’s Professional Technical College CTLC is equipped with 57 computers, 20 of which were provided by Microsoft, 37 by the college.  Leaflets about the free classes were distributed in nearby factories through collaboration with local women’s federation and the Export Promotion Office.

“As a leader in the information industry, we hope that our efforts will allow those who have not had the opportunity to study to get a grounding from which they can grow, to develop their unlimited potential,” Zhang Ye, Community Affairs Director, Microsoft China said.

“This program is an important development of The Asia Foundation’s multi-sector programs for migrant women workers that help to build their confidence, increase their livelihoods, and integrate them socially into their communities,” said Jonathan Stromseth, The Asia Foundation’s Country Representative for China.

“The Guangdong Women’s Professional Technical College attaches great importance to this cooperation program. Even before the program’s official launch, the college staff have put in a lot of work and in fact, 300 people have already taken part in the computer training at our college,” Wu Hongyue, president of the college said.

Wen Xin, a migrant worker originally from Hubei Province who took part in the Sanxiang program, attended the new CTLC launch ceremony and noted, “By studying, women workers moved away from the feeling that computers are something mysterious and learned some computer skills.”

The Asia Foundation looks forward to continuing the CTLC program with the generous support of Microsoft Corporation.