A 14-member delegation from the National Committee on United States-China Relations (NCUSCR), led by Dr. Zhang Jian, visited Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran Inc. (Kaisa), a heritage building in Intramuros, Manila on Jan. 14, 2025.
The delegation was warmly welcomed by Kaisa founder Teresita Ang See, along with chairman Xen Xing Hua, former Philippine Association for Chinese Studies chairperson Zhang Su Yu, former UP principal Michael Tan and other staff members.
The visit included a guided tour of Bahay Tsino—a historical and cultural site dedicated to preserving the heritage of the Chinese community in the Philippines. The tour was led by Kaisa chairman Xen Xing Hua and director Cai You Ming.
Founded in 1966, the NCUSCR is a non-governmental organization with over 750 members representing various sectors of American society including business, academia and religious organizations.
The NCUSCR has been instrumental in fostering US-China relations, notably playing a pivotal role in the historic 1972 visit of the Chinese National Table Tennis team to the United States, which helped thaw relations between the two nations.
The delegation’s visit to the Philippines is part of a broader tour that also includes stops in Vietnam and Taiwan.
Throughout their stay, the group engaged with key Philippine institutions including the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, various think tanks and universities.
Their goal is to strengthen people-to-people ties and promote mutual understanding between the United States, China, and the Philippines.
The visit highlights the growing importance of international dialogues and exchanges in promoting cooperation and understanding, particularly in the context of the shifting geopolitical landscape of the Asia-Pacific region.