The Boeing Company Partners with The Washington Center to Establish U.S.-China Experiential Learning Project

Chinese and American college students will participate

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 15, 2007-- The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars has received a grant from The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA]  to establish a three-year U.S.-China Bilateral Trade Fellowship Program in the spring of 2008.  The full-time fellowship program will be based in Washington, D.C.

The fellowship program will consist of 60 “Boeing Fellows” in all—30 each from China and the United States, with 20 students from both countries completing the program each year for three years.  The program will employ an experiential learning approach to increase mutual understanding of cultural and social practices and foster the exchange of information about business skills and best practices in the respective countries.

The fellows will work with public and private sector organizations related to issues and fields that interest them. In addition, they will attend a weekly course about the policy implications of the U.S.-China Bilateral Trade Agreement and participate in a variety of other Washington Center programs, including a lecture series, congressional breakfasts, small group discussions and other cultural experiences.

Bob Watt, vice president, State and Local Government Relations and Global Corporate Citizenship for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said The Washington Center has a solid track record working with young people from all over the world, and believes that one of the best ways to strengthen the U.S.-China relationship is through meaningful interaction between students from both countries.

“This new program is a tremendous opportunity to reach the future leaders of China and the United States,” Watt said. "We believe our strategic investment in this program will enlighten young people from both countries and will help to foster a mutual understanding that will reinforce positive relations for decades to come.”

Boeing predicts that China, ranking third among U.S. trading partners according to the Congressional Research Service, will be the largest market for commercial air travel outside the United States for the next 20 years.

“Commercial aviation is crucial to China’s economic growth and Boeing has helped Chinese commercial aviation companies with employee training and by working with their aviation administrative body to improve flight regulations and safety standards. As a result, the Chinese commercial airline industry has been able to expand and join the world’s aviation and supplier network,” said Watt.

Michael Smith, president of The Washington Center, said his organization is honored to partner with The Boeing Company in this exciting project designed to enhance relationships between these two economic powerhouses.  “This is a very worthy undertaking,” Smith said, “and we thank The Boeing Company for its generous financial support to make it possible.”

In addition to its commercial jetliners and military aircraft, Boeing designs and manufactures rotorcraft, electronic and defense systems, missiles, satellites, launch vehicles and advanced information and communication systems, and provides numerous military and commercial airline support services. A major service provider to NASA, Boeing operates the Space Shuttle and International Space Station. Boeing has customers in more than 90 countries around the world and is one of the largest U.S. exporters in terms of sales.

The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars is an independent, nonprofit organization serving hundreds of colleges and universities in the United States and other countries by providing selected students challenging opportunities to work and learn in Washington, D.C. for academic credit.  The largest such program, with more than 70 full-time staff, The Washington Center has over 35,000 alumni, leaders in numerous professions and nations around the world.  For additional information, please visit our website.

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