Kevin Rudd speaks at launch of Asia Society, Seattle

Asia Society Seattle celebrates its momentous launch. Over 200 guests from the local community, and leadership from Asia Society New York, Northern California, and Southern California, gather at the Seattle Asian Art Museum to commemorate the launch and collective vision of navigating shared futures with Asia in the Pacific Northwest through cultural exchange, economic ties, and public policy engagement on various issues of great importance. In an all-star panel discussion, Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Founder of Breakthrough Energy; Kevin Rudd, Australia’s Ambassador to the United States and former Australia Prime Minister; Gary Rieschel, Chairman of Asia Society Northern California and Asia Society Seattle; and Daniel Russel, Vice President for International Security and Diplomacy at the Asia Society Policy Institute, explore potential future trajectories of the U.S.-China relationship. Panelists delve into issues including China’s economy, investment in China, and the technological competition between the two countries. Gates also shares insights into the Gates Foundation’s work in China and his meeting with China’s President Xi in April, where they discussed collaboration on fighting pandemics and developing low-cost vaccines. The discussion is moderated by Lingling Wei, Chief China Correspondent at the Wall Street Journal.

Dr Rudd is chairman emeritus of Asia Society.