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On Monday, October 28, Boulder joined sixty cities in a live program featuring the Madeleine Albright, the former U.S. Secretary of State. CHINA Town Hall is an annual event held by the National Committee on United States-China Relations in which participants can view a live broadcast interview with a leader in U.S-China relations. After the interview, viewers in the United States and across the world are invited to submit questions for the speaker, creating a town hall-like environment in which people are able to engage with one another and with the speaker.

Madeleine Albright discussed many pertinent issues, ranging from the need for increased U.S. leadership in the U.S.-China relationship to human rights issues in China. Viewers from all over the world, including Pittsburg and Beijing, submitted questions to Ms. Albright that dove deeper into issues concerning U.S. leadership, the Chinese military and its intentions in the East and South China Seas, and Ms. Albright’s own opinion of what is the most pressing issue in the U.S.-China relationship today.

Following the national broadcast, our on-site speaker, Dr. Melinda Herrold-Menzies, Associate Professor of Environmental Analysis at Pitzer College, spoke to us on environmental issues in China. She discussed not only the well-known pollution problem in Chinese cities, but also movements to protect endangered species and enact positive environmental legislation. Although her talk covered many topics, she offered an informative overview of the current state of environmental degradation and protection in China.

With two talks that equally engaged and informed our audience and provoked thoughtful discussion afterwards, this year’s CHINA Town Hall was a big success, and we are looking forward to another great event next year.