At the conference, a CCP official urged America to drop the “enemy narrative” about China.
DNC Chairman Emeritus Howard Dean delivered the American welcome address at a China dialogue involving the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, a think tank identified in congressional commission testimony as “run by Chinese intelligence.”
The Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament, which co-organized the event, has an equally explicit allegiance. Its charter says it:
“upholds the comprehensive leadership of the Chinese Communist Party.”According to the American organizer’s account, Dean delivered his welcome virtually on June 23, 2026. The meeting took place in Wenzhou, China. Lu Kang, a vice minister of the CCP’s International Department, delivered the keynote.
Dean, a former Vermont governor and presidential candidate, was named DNC chairman emeritus in 2009.
The think tank at the dialogue, known as CICIR, was specifically named by China intelligence specialist Peter Mattis in 2016 testimony to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. He described it among:
“think tanks run by Chinese intelligence.”
The peace association, known as CPAPD, says it jointly organized the event with the American Arsenault Family Foundation.
The association’s commitment to CCP leadership is written into its governing rules. Its charter requires it to establish a Communist Party organization, conduct Party activities, and provide the conditions necessary for those activities.
Dean, a former Vermont governor and presidential candidate, was named DNC chairman emeritus in 2009.
The think tank at the dialogue, known as CICIR, was specifically named by China intelligence specialist Peter Mattis in 2016 testimony to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. He described it among:
“think tanks run by Chinese intelligence.”
The peace association, known as CPAPD, says it jointly organized the event with the American Arsenault Family Foundation.
The association’s commitment to CCP leadership is written into its governing rules. Its charter requires it to establish a Communist Party organization, conduct Party activities, and provide the conditions necessary for those activities.
Dean, a former Vermont governor and presidential candidate, was named DNC chairman emeritus in 2009.
The think tank at the dialogue, known as CICIR, was specifically named by China intelligence specialist Peter Mattis in 2016 testimony to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. He described it among:
“think tanks run by Chinese intelligence.”
The peace association, known as CPAPD, says it jointly organized the event with the American Arsenault Family Foundation.
The association’s commitment to CCP leadership is written into its governing rules. Its charter requires it to establish a Communist Party organization, conduct Party activities, and provide the conditions necessary for those activities.
And the Party official speaking at Dean’s event had a message for the Americans.
According to the CCP International Department’s readout, Lu urged participants to:
“move beyond the ‘enemy narrative’”
He also called on them to:
“foster a correct strategic perception”
The CCP then portrayed American participants as ready to translate the strategic-stability framework announced after the Trump-Xi summit into:
“practical and feasible policy measures”
The following day brought another forum organized by the same Chinese association. The American delegation’s opening speakers included Center for American Progress senior fellow David Rank and foundation leader Marcel Arsenault, who spoke by video.
Lu again made public perceptions a priority. He blamed “cognitive biases and groundless suspicions” for obstructing relations and urged exchanges that would:
“guide the peoples of both countries to objectively view each other’s development achievements”
Natalie Winters
