KU Law News
Nov. 18, 2008
Chinese ambassador hopes for more international cooperation from new U.S. administration
UN Photo by Paulo FilgueirasAmbassador Liu Zhenmin
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Click here to view video of the lecture.China and the rest of the world are expecting the United States to adopt a friendlier stance toward international cooperation under President Barack Obama.
Ambassador Liu Zhenmin, China’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, told an audience at the University of Kansas School of Law on Friday that the U.S. should keep lines of free trade open, get on board with international environmental treaties and work more closely with other world powers on foreign policy issues.
“I hope the new American administration will not disappoint the world,” said Liu, who delivered the 2008 Diplomat’s Forum lecture to about 100 people at Green Hall. The Diplomat’s Forum is the law school’s most prestigious annual international and comparative law event.
During his talk, Liu outlined challenges facing the UN and the new American president, including how to withdraw responsibly from Iraq, engage appropriately with Iran and respond to calls from the international community on climate change.
Obama’s first priority, however, will be addressing what has become a global financial crisis.
“Appropriately responding to the financial crisis by the new American administration will be its responsibility not only to its own people but also to the rest of the world,” Liu said. “The U.S. economy is the engine of world development, and the crisis originated from Wall Street.”
A native of Shanxi Province, Liu graduated from Peking University’s department of English language and literature in 1978 and from its law school in 1981. He joined the Foreign Service in January 1982. Liu has worked at various levels in the department of treaty and law at China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has served as deputy permanent representative of China to the United Nations since 2006.
Click here to view video of the lecture.
