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The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) held a public talk entitled “Dealing with China: Mr. Henry M. Paulson, Jr. in conversation with Prof. Lawrence J. Lau” today (17 Oct).  Over 600 participants were in attendance, including staff, students, alumni, governmental officials, consulate-general officials, representatives from leading financial institutions, and members of the public.  In their talk, the speakers – the former U.S. Treasury Secretary and Goldman Sachs CEO Mr. Henry M. Paulson, Jr., and the prestigious Hong Kong economist, former CUHK Vice-Chancellor and Ralph and Claire Landau Professor of Economics Professor Lawrence J. Lau – took the audience behind closed doors to witness the creation and evolution and future of China’s state-controlled capitalism. 

The Chinese University Press recently published the Chinese edition of Dealing with China: An Insider Unmasks the New Economic Superpower (《與中國打交道：親歷一個新經濟大國的崛起》), which was authored by Mr. Henry M. Paulson, Jr.  The English edition of the book was a New York Times 2015 Bestseller.  It was also considered by the Financial Times as “a must-read for anyone who deals with China and possesses an aircraft carrier or two.”  

This book is a memoir.  Mr. Paulson visited China over 100 times during the period in which he dealt with the China officials and enterprises.  As head of Goldman Sachs, he had a pivotal role in opening up China to private enterprise. Then, as Treasury Secretary, he created the Strategic Economic Dialogue with what is now the world’s second-largest economy. He negotiated with China on needed economic reforms, while safeguarding the teetering U.S. financial system. Over his career, Mr. Paulson has worked with scores of top Chinese leaders, including Xi Jinping, China’s most powerful man in decades. 

Written in an anecdote rich, page turning style, Dealing with China is certain to become the classic and definitive examination of how to engage China’s leaders as they build their economic superpower. The publication of the Chinese edition provides Chinese readers with the different perspective of how the West observes and understands the rise of China and its impact on the world. 

Biography of Mr. Henry M. Paulson, Jr 

Henry M. Paulson, Jr. served as CEO of Goldman Sachs (1999-2006), 74th secretary of the U.S. Treasury (2006-2009), and chairman of the Nature Conservancy (2004-2006). He has sat across the negotiating table from countless Chinese politicians and CEOs as a banker, a statesman, and an environmentalist. Since leaving Washington, the former Treasury secretary has worked on strengthening the relationship between the U.S. and China through the Paulson Institute, a “think and do” tank headquartered in Chicago focused on advancing sustainable economic growth and environmental protection in both countries..