The 1990 Institute is a U.S.-based not-for-profit organization formed in 1989 by a group of volunteers comprised of academic, business, and community leaders who were deeply concerned about conditions in China and wanted to provide a forum that would investigate the challenges facing China and propose related solutions without involving itself in the politics of either country.

The Institute began as a think tank dedicated to the study of major economic and social issues relating to China and has produced books and issue papers (see Publications ) and sponsored conferences and symposia on a number of topics (see Activities)

Over the years, the Institute has expanded the scope of its activities to become an action-oriented think tank that produces real and measurable results in China in areas ranging from girls education, to cross-cultural communication with a focus on art and the environment, to microfinance, to a biofuels initiative. Although these projects are disparate and reflect the varied interests and talents of our directors, they have in common the goal of improving conditions for China’s citizens in terms of education, socioeconomic development, and quality of life, and of improving the ever more important relationship between the U.S. and China.

Because we are an all-volunteer organization with minimal overhead, we are proud of the fact that all contributions to our 501(c)(3) organization go directly to our projects and programs.

Photo:  Institute Chairman C.B. Sung presents our first major research book, China's Economic Reform, to General Secretary Jiang Zemin on October 23, 1993 at the Great Hall of the People, Beijing.