US think tank receives $3m for China studies

LOS ANGELES - A leading think tank in the United States has received a donation of $3 million to support its China policy studies, it was on announced Monday.

The donation to the Rand Corporation from the Cyrus and Michael Tang Foundation will be used to establish the Tang Chair at the institution in California.

The money will support a senior scholar to undertake research on the critical factors influencing China's future, particularly in education and healthcare, according to a statement by Rand.

"This significant gift will enable Rand to establish our first endowed chair with an international focus," said the institution's president and CEO, Michael D. Rich.

"We are very grateful for the continued generosity of the Tang family and look forward to furthering Rand's China-focused policy research and analysis capabilities."

The Tang Institute for US-China Relations, which will house the Tang Chair, is part of the Rand Center for Asia Pacific Policy, where Cyrus and Michael Tang have served as members of the advisory board.

Rafiq Dossani, director of CAPP and a senior economist at Rand, said that "with this additional gift we will be able to significantly broaden our research on China and improve the impact of Rand's policy expertise on China's future growth".

Cyrus Tang is the CEO and chairman of Tang Industries, an international manufacturing and distribution company based in Las Vegas. Michael Tang is vice-chairman of Tang Industries and CEO of National Material L.P. They are both longtime Rand supporters.

"Our family feels that the new endowed chair will enable effective discussions on education and healthcare in order to help address China's long-term growth needs," Cyrus Tang said.

Xinhua

(China Daily 08/31/2017 page12)