[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 15538]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           OUR OUTSTANDING AMBASSADOR IN BEIJING--JIM SASSER

 Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President. I join many other Senators in 
welcoming our former colleague, Ambassador James Sasser, back to the 
United States after his outstanding service as our Ambassador to the 
People's Republic of China.
  America has vital foreign policy interests in China, and Ambassador 
Sasser has represented those interests skillfully and effectively for 
more than three years.
  During his service as Ambassador, he has worked diligently to restore 
high level summitry between China and the United States. His able 
leadership has made the American Embassy in Beijing more responsive to 
the concerns and interests of American business. He has also worked 
tirelessly to promote dialogue with the Dalai Lama.
  In the aftermath of the tragic, mistaken bombing of China's embassy 
in Belgrade in May, America's embassy in Beijing was under siege, and 
Ambassador Sasser was virtually held hostage in the embassy. During 
this extraordinarily difficult time, he ensured that American personnel 
were safe and accounted for. He displayed remarkable courage during 
this ordeal, and made America proud of him.
  All of us who worked with Ambassador Sasser in the Senate knew he 
would excel when President Clinton nominated him for this position. I 
congratulate him on a job well done. We are proud of his remarkable 
accomplishments and the efforts he has made to strengthen the U.S.-
China relationship.

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