I'm no expert, but on the secret visit event, the setting was formal and deferential. V.P. Wang Qishan acknowledged the importance of the visit and took the opportunity to chastise the current Administration on U.S. - China relations. I thought that given the positive mood of the event, that it wouldn't be necessary to bring up the obvious difficulties in the relationship. Nevertheless, he did.

He indicated that the United States was making a mistake by imagining China as its enemy and said that U.S. problems are domestic. Dr. Kissinger described the secret visit and its importance. He indicated that the key to opening was acknowledging the one-China policy and putting aside issues that couldn't be readily resolved. I thought he made this statement in a particularly emphatic manner. Again, I'm no expert, but was Dr. Kissinger subtly reminding Chinese leaders that that principal is as important today as it was 50 years ago?

Many of the speakers reiterated the theme that the success of the secret meeting and subsequent discussion was mutual efforts to understand positions and constraints and setting aside issues that couldn't be resolved. I got the impression that the speakers were suggesting a similar approach today, in line with Bill's suggestion of a "new" secret meeting.

Please take these comments with a grain of salt. I'm not a China expert.