On the afternoon of January 30, Georgia Tech’s Sam Nunn School of International Affairs hosted a 4 hour workshop on Sino-U.S.relations in cooperation with the Shanghai Institute of International Studies (SIIS). 
Four senior analysts from SIIS visited Atlanta for three days: Professor Yu Xintian, President of SIIS, Professor Xia Liping, Director of the Center for International Strategic Studies at SIIS, Dr. Ren Xiao, Director of the Department of American Studies at SIIS, and Mr. Zhao Nianyu, Director of the Office of Research Management and International Exchanges at SIIS. Participating Atlanta-area academics were from Kennesaw State University, Oglethorpe University, Georgia Southern University, Dalton State College, the University of Georgia, North Georgia University, Emory University, and Georgia State University, as well as from Georgia Tech. Representatives of the Atlanta Journal Constitution and several Atlanta-area businessmen also participated. The format was based on open discussion and dialogue.
At the request of the Chinese side discussion began with the problem of Korea and continued for two hours on that topic. Taiwan and Iraq occupied the final two hours of the workshop. The atmosphere was cordial and frank. The objective of greater mutual understanding was achieved. The central thrust of the Chinese side regarding Korea was that there should be bilateral talks between North Korea and the United States, and that threats, pressure, and sanctions against North Korea would be counter-productive. China’s interests and its policy required a stable and non-nuclear Korea, and China hoped to work with the United States to achieve those objectives. China has no interest in destabilizing north Korea, an event which could destabilize China’s Jilin province. In private comments, several of the Chinese scholars expressed concern with possible Japanese nuclearization. On Taiwan, discussion was remarkably calm. Both sides stated their familiar positions, and showed no interest in trying to rebut the other. Over all, the Shanghai guests were optimistic about prospects for
