News Release
Date: May 7, 2015
Media Contact: (214) 259-3438
Global, Political and Scientific Leaders Confront Epidemic
Threats at 6th George H.W. Bush China-U.S. Relations
Conference
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The outbreak of the Ebola virus in Africa, and the role
China and the U.S. are playing in dealing with emerging global infectious diseases, epidemic
threats and bioterrorism, form the backdrop for the 6th George H.W. Bush China-U.S. Relations
Conference, which will be held Monday, May 11, through Wednesday, May 13, 2015, at Hotel
ZaZa in Houston, Texas.
An elite group of 350 physicians, scientists, policymakers, government officials and
business leaders will attend the unprecedented gathering, themed “Global Infectious Diseases:
Prevention, Preparedness, and Response.” Plenary sessions and scientific and policy roundtables
will bring together participant “think tanks” aimed at addressing how China and the U.S. can
work together to develop a global strategy that deploys tangible new actions – including state-ofthe-art technology and educational programs – to avert widespread human suffering and
economic and social disruption that could result from bioterrorist threats and/or epidemics
involving the Ebola virus, MERS, influenza and other diseases.
Highlights of the conference will include speeches by Tom Frieden, M.D., MPH, Director,
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Liu Qian, Vice Minister of the
National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People’s Republic of China on the topic
of the global health security agenda and the critical role the U.S. and China are playing in
responding to Ebola and preventing future health threats. Additionally, Xu Kuangdi, former Vice
President of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and President of China-U.S.
People’s Friendship Association, and Cui Tiankai, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China
to the United States of America will deliver addresses on the topic of U.S.-China relations.
Hosts for the conference are the Texas A&M Health Science Center and Chinese People’s
Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries; co-hosts are Peking University Health
Science Center, Texas A&M University and the Texas Medical Center.
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Cont.: 6th George H.W. Bush China-U.S. Relations Conference
“Microbes respect no national boundaries, political affiliations or ethnicities,” said Brett
P. Giroir, M.D., CEO of the Texas A&M Health Science Center, who in 2014 directed the Task
Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response. “Given today’s global connectivity, an
epidemic anywhere will rapidly become a threat everywhere. We hope the Conference leads to
tangible new actions that will substantially improve health and biosecurity around the world.”
Several of the world’s most acclaimed scientists and policy makers will also deliver
keynote addresses or lead plenary panels, including: Rear Admiral Kenneth Bernard (USPHS,
Ret.), Former Special Assistant to the President for Biodefense Policy; Julie Gerberding, M.D.,
M.P.H., Executive Vice President for Strategic Communications, Global Public Policy and
Population Health, Merck, and the former director of the CDC; Robert Kadlec, M.D., former
Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Biodefense Policy, Homeland Security
Council; Madam Li Xiaolin, President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with
Foreign Countries;; Feng Zijian, Deputy General Director, China Center for Disease Control and
Prevention; Xu Chen, President of Bank of China USA; Rajeev Venkayya, M.D., President, Global
Vaccine Business Unit of Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Former Director for Global Health Delivery at
the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Special Assistant to the President for Biodefense
Policy; and Conference Co-chair Neil Bush, whose father, U.S. President George H.W. Bush, was
instrumental in establishing this recurring international event.
The complete program schedule may be accessed here. Follow the Conference on Twitter
#EndPandemics.
- 30 About the China-U.S. Relations Conference
Since its inaugural conference in 2003, the George H.W. Bush China-U.S. Relations Conference has
continued President George H.W. Bush’s vision and legacy of establishing better understanding, closer
ties, and important collaboration between China and the U.S. in the 21st century.
About Texas A&M Health Science Center
Texas A&M Health Science Center is Transforming Health through innovative research, education
and service in dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health and medical sciences. As an
independent state agency and academic unit of Texas A&M University, the health science center serves
the state through campuses in Bryan-College Station, Dallas, Temple, Houston, Round Rock, Kingsville,
Corpus Christi and McAllen. Learn more at news.tamhsc.edu or follow @TAMHSC on Twitter.
About Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries
Established in 1954, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) is
one of the earliest national people's organizations engaged in people-to-people diplomacy of the
People's Republic of China. It carries out people-to-people friendship work in an all-round, multi-level
and wide-range way which enhances understanding, develops friendship, and strengthens cooperation
between countries. Learn more events of the association at en.cpaffc.org.cn.