Ambassador Zhang Yesui attended the Annual Awards Dinner hosted by Asia Society at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington, DC on June 15, 2011. Awards recipients are President of Mongolia Tsakhia Elbegdorj, former US Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger, US Under Secretary of the Treasury Lael Brainard, and Chairmen of Duke Energy and ENN.

Ambassador Zhang was invited to introduce Dr. Henry Kissinger, the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. Ambassador Zhang commended Dr. Kissinger's contribution to the normalization and development of China-U.S. relationship. Ambassador Zhang also spoke highly of Dr. Kissinger's new book On China. Ambassador Zhang pointed out that the healthy and smooth development of China-U.S. relationship is not only in the interests of both countries but also the world at large. The book reviews the history of Dr. Kissinger's comprehensive engagement with China over the last four decades, and also his strategic thinking of how the two sides could deepen mutual trust and cooperation in the future, which offers useful and inspiring insights on the development of China-U.S. relationship.

Dr. Kissinger shared the background of his book On China. He stressed that it is of vital importance that China and the United States enhance cooperation to address global challenges such as terrorism, proliferation and climate change. Both sides should respect and embrace each other and work together to maintain world peace and stability.

Over 400 guests, including diplomats from more than 30 Asian countries, U.S. administration officials, and representatives from think-tanks and the business community attended the dinner.